…or, The Flower Of Youth
I was on edge all through lore class, and was relieved when Hall didn’t assign any homework. My head was full of a hundred things, none of which had anything to do with ancient kings or golden keys or armies of toy soldiers. I went through three cigarettes on the way back to and before heading into Pelinor. They did nothing for my nerves.
Nothing helpful, anyway.
There was a note on my door when I got upstairs. It simply read, “package @ desk – Jennifer.” I wasn’t too surprised; my mom had said she’d be sending care packages. For it to have arrived on the first Friday after I arrived, she would have had to have sent it first thing after they got home, but I honestly wouldn’t have put that past her.
The desk was being manned by a tall girl with light auburn hair and freckles. Either she or her shirt was named Jessica.
“Hi, can I help you?” Jessica asked me.
“Yeah, I’m looking for a package,” I said.
“Oh, um, I just got here a bit ago, but I don’t think there are any,” she said. “Were you expecting something?”
“Not really, but I got a note saying I had one,” I said.
“There’re some flowers in the back, but they’re for a Jamie, up on three,” she said. “I can check and see if anything else…”
“That’s actually me,” I said. “Jamie. Bowman.”
Her mouth formed the word “oh”, and then she said it out loud, and then she scurried to the door at the end of the counter. She came back bearing a globular arrangement of pale pink peonies and cream-colored roses bound in satin ribbon, with clusters of pearls. There was an opening in the top of it.
The vase had a card attached. I didn’t even have to look to see that it was from Iason. There were a few lines in elvish:
“You have lit for me a candle, with which I may illuminate the darkest corners of your being.”
“Can you read that?” she asked. “What’s it say?”
“Get well soon,” I said.
“Oh.”
She sounded disappointed.
The floral display attracted attention on the way up the stairs.
“Oh, wow. Who are the flowers for?” a pig-tailed girl in overalls asked.
“Me, actually,” I said. I heard her and her friends start giggling as I headed up.
I set the vase down on my dresser, next to the floating rose. I didn’t like how the two looked next to each other. I started to pick up the bouquet, but then on an impulse I took the glass flower and slid it into the center of the arrangement.
It actually floated at the right height to fit in the opening, completing it. I turned off the light and watched how the entire thing looked, lit up from the inside.
I smiled.
Sue me, I thought it was pretty.
There was a knock on the door.
“It’s open,” I said, turning the light back on as Missy entered the room.
“Hey,” she said. “I wanted to say—flowers!”
“What’s stopping you?” I asked with a grin.
“Huh?”
“From saying ‘flowers’,” I said. She stared blankly. “Never mind. I’ll leave the weird humor to Marlot, I guess.”
“Are those from Iason?” she asked.
I wanted to be irritated that her mind had gone there, but that wouldn’t be fair. Who else would have sent them?
“Yeah,” I said.
She went over and looked at the card.
“What’s this say?”
I translated it for her, accurately.
“Oh, wow,” she said. “That’s so romantic.”
“He’s talking about his dick.”
“Still romantic,” she said. “Are those real pearls?”
“I think so,” I said.
“You got yourself a sugar daddy,” she said, grinning.
“That’s the last thing that I want,” I said.
“But if he wants to buy things for you, why not?” she asked.
I shrugged. I didn’t think Missy would be able to understand what bothered me about it, even if I knew how to explain it.
“Maybe next time he’ll give you a pearl necklace,” she said, then was overcome with a fit of giggles.
I didn’t say anything.
“I know I say this all the time, but the whole thing just gets me so hot,” she said. “Do you have time before your date?”
“Yeah, I have time,” I said.
She struggled out of her shirt. She was wearing a different bra this time, a better one. It was red, and while didn’t look like it supported her as much, it definitely didn’t cover as much. I got hard in spite of myself, and I let her kiss me.
My cock responded even if my mind didn’t. She unbuttoned my jeans and slid her hand in against the front of my briefs, feeling the hardening mass inside. I slipped my own hand inside one of her cups, touching her nipple.
I kissed her back. We made out for a few minutes, with her hand massaging my groin and mine on her breast.
“You got protection?” she asked.
“Yeah,” I said, and went to get a ring. I’d moved the remaining two into my desk drawer. She took the packet from me before I could get it open and ripped it with her teeth, then jammed the little circlet onto her finger.
We peeled off each other’s pants and underwear. I started to take off my shirt, but she grabbed me by the waist and swung me around onto the desk. I heard my lamp breaking as it hit the floor.
“Aw, shit,” I said.
“Shh,” she said, positioning herself. We did it sitting up at the edge of my desk. She was intense and focused, but there wasn’t any passion. I was leaned back and propping myself up with my hands, so I couldn’t even get her bra off or do anything but sit there and feel her riding up and down.
The position was uncomfortable for me, but she seemed to be enjoying it. I kept thinking of Iason. I had a feeling she was, too.
She got off less than ten minutes in, and then slid off me. I was less disappointed than I was glad it was over. That didn’t seem like a great sign.
“Whoo! You’re still up after all that? You are like a little golem,” she said. She grabbed my cock. “A little iron golem.”
“Yeah,” I said, pulling out of her grip. “I’ve got to get ready for Iason.”
“Of course,” she said. She licked my nose. “I’m going to be all alone tonight, so I’ll definitely be thinking of you guys going at it while I’m doing my thing.”
“Uh, you’ll probably want to remember that Marlot’s going to come back at some point during the evening,” I said.
“No, she said she’ll be sleeping with Bobby,” Missy said.
“She just up and decided to sleep with him?”
“Pretty much.”
“And this is their first date?” I asked. I was more irritated with Marlot than I was with Missy, suddenly.
“I don’t think it’s even a date,” Missy said. “They’re just getting coffee. But she’s pretty sure he’s going to ask her and she’s pretty sure she’s going to say yes. Which, I was glad to hear, because I’ve got a shoebox full of friends I’ve really been missing.” She put her hand on my cock again and gave it a squeeze again. “Not that the real thing isn’t nice, too. But there are things a wand can do that a person can’t. No offense.”
“Yeah, I’ll see you tomorrow, Missy,” I said. “I’ve really got to get ready.”
“Oh. Okay,” she said. She cleaned herself up, and then left.
I didn’t know what I actually had to do to get ready, except for taking care of my hard-on before my balls exploded. It wasn’t like I was going to be putting on make-up. A shower would probably be polite. It might also help clear my head.
I’d always wanted a girlfriend. Boys had always just been someone to have sex with. Now I had a boyfriend—might as well call the thing what it was—and a girl I had sex with. I didn’t know what the hell I was going to do with either of them.
Iason was hot. He made me feel wanted. Okay, he made me feel pretty. I didn’t know how to deal with that.
Missy wasn’t so annoying that it would be worth telling her to take a hike. Especially not when she’d be with Marlot for at least the semester.
I didn’t mind being her masturbation fodder. It was flattering, and it wasn’t like I’d never pulled it to her before. What bothered me was the feeling that sex with me was masturbation, for her. If one of her toys had been closer at hand than me when she got to thinking about Iason and me, she would have grabbed it.
If she’d given me a chance to finish, or even to get comfortable, that wouldn’t have been that bad. At least it would have been a mutual experience.
After I finished showering, I realized I did have one thing I needed to do: figure out what I was wearing. For a dance on campus, I could just throw on some high-end jeans and a shirt with a collar. Iason had stressed that this was going to be a “nice” dinner, though. Since he gave glass flowers and pearls, he probably meant it.
I had some nice things in the closet. My mom had insisted I bring my dress clothes, “for school functions or whatever.” I didn’t know if she thought I’d be invited to dinner with the chancellor or what. I looked at my choices.
A black silk shirt stood out. I’d never much liked it, but it appealed to me now. Somehow, it seemed to suit the occasion. Also, I could wear it with a tie, but it didn’t need one. That gave me a little wiggle room. I had a pair of white dress slacks that looked petty good with it. I got my dress shoes, and realized after I’d put them on that I was shorter in them than I was in my street shoes. Couldn’t be helped.
I combed my hair down. Remembering how Iason had ruffled it, I combed it up in front. I wasn’t going to grow it long for him, but if he wanted it a little messy looking, I could do that.
Once I was dressed, there was still more than an hour to go. I flipped through the channels on the TV for a bit, then wandered out of my room and into the lounge. There were some early diners there, warming up packaged meals. It was all girls sitting at the tables, though there was a guy sticking a noodle cup into one of the warmers. Judging from the few times I’d visited it, it seemed like the lounge was shaping up to be a social space for the girls more so than the guys.
“Somebody’s looking sharp,” a witchy-looking girl with purple streaks in her dark hair said. I thought her name might be Vivian.
“Thanks.”
“Somebody sent him flowers,” a blonde girl who’d been with the group on the stair said. I didn’t think she was on our floor.
“Oh,” the witchy girl said. “I do declare.”
“Yeah,” I said. What was I supposed to say to that?
“Were they pretty?” she asked.
“They were white roses and little pink things,” the blonde said.
“More of a cream, actually,” I said. “And the other ones were peonies.”
“Do you get a lot of flowers?” the girl who might have been named Vivian asked.
“No,” I said. “This was the first time.”
“Well, remember,” she said. “Just because a guy sends you flowers doesn’t mean you have to put out.”
This comment caused a bunch of “what the fuck?” looks from the other girls, which then turned into laughter.
“Yeah, I have a boyfriend and it’s funny,” I said. “I get it.”
“I’m sorry, I’m not making fun of you,” she said. “I’m Violet, by the way.”
“I’m Jamie,” I said. Well, I’d been close.
“Yeah, I know,” she said. “And yeah, you were pretty close.”
“Subtle artist,” I said, realizing she’d heard my thought.
“Right,” she said. The chair next to her scooted out and bumped my leg. “Nice to meet you.”
“Thanks,” I said. “I don’t remember you saying you were a subtle arts major.”
“You didn’t remember my name, either,” she said.
“I might have, if you’d had the purple hair,” I said. “But subtle arts is an unusual major. It’s the kind of thing that sticks out.”
“Yeah, it is,” she said. “That’s among the reasons I’m not one. Anyway, it’s not really funny that you have a boyfriend. I think it’s kind of rockin’, actually.”
“Does it have to be anything?” I asked, taking the chair. “Can’t I just have a boyfriend?”
“Dunno,” she said. “Can’t you? You seem kind of conflicted about the whole thing. Not to pry.”
“Is it your first?” the blonde asked.
“First boyfriend? Pretty much,” I said. I looked around the room. It was just me and scattered girls now. “Being with guys isn’t new. Dating them is.”
“Elfblood, right?” Violet asked. “I can’t, you know, read that, but I remember Marlot said that. Yes, we pretty much do all know each other. I don’t know why you guys think you have to hide out like monsters in their lairs all the time. Hey, Lonnie!”
It was disconcerting enough to have her answer a question I hadn’t asked that for a moment I thought she’d just called me “Lonnie”. Movement caught the corner of my eye, and I turned to see Iolana, wearing a flowery wrap.
“Hey, chicky,” she said to Violet. She looked at me. Her eyelids fluttered down and then rolled up. Her lashes were thick and red and long. I’m not a big fan of mascara, if only because it usually looks hideous, but a touch of glamour on the eyelashes never hurt anything. “Oh, are you going out with Jason tonight?”
“Is that his name?” the blonde asked.
“It’s Iason, actually,” I said.
“Uh-yay-son,” the blonde repeated. “Nice. What kind of name is that?”
“Elvish,” I said. “He’s an elf.”
Iolana leaned forward across the table. Either she didn’t know or didn’t care that this gave a clear view of her breasts. They were perfectly tanned, just like the rest of her. Or maybe that was her skin color.
“Melissa says he’s way sexy,” she said with a smile. “Is he?”
Don’t stare. The thought, purple-colored and smelling of violets, had nudged its way into my brain.
“Huh, what?”
“Is he sexy?” Iolana asked. “Your man?”
“Uh, I think so,” I said. “Who’s Melissa?”
“Marlot’s roomy,” Iolana said. “I thought she said she knew you.”
“She does,” I said. “We call her Missy.”
“Oh, okay,” she said. “I was pretty sure that she did know you.”
I didn’t have to be a subtle artist to figure out what she meant. I’d finally found a way into a conversation with the hot girl I’d noticed on the first day, and we were talking about the girl I was doing while I waited for my apparent boyfriend.
Yeah.
This was going well.
“I’m, uh, gonna go have a cigarette,” I said.
Six couldn’t come around fast enough.
Holy crap- first?
Arf!
Off to read, I swear!
Mook
MOOK!
Cliffhanger? Oh cruel mistress. I love that sex with Missy lacks passion, unlike sex with Iason. Seems pretty telling to me what side of the fence Jamie falls on.
The card, I dunno I thought it was romantic.
can’t wait for the date!
Okay, actual comment this time.
“Either her or her shirt was named Jessica.”
Shouldn’t it be “either she or her shirt”?
So, we’ve added a subtle artist to the cast- I wonder if she’s going to make any more appearances?
I think I’m liking Missy less and less as the story goes on.
Might I just say, that I really like Violet. I hope that she becomes a regular in this series. She has pizazz. Also, once again Missy bugs me. She’s such a twat, which is not something I say lightly.
Gosh, Missy just keeps going down hill in my book. Just like He said about Missy using him for masturbation is pretty much true in my mind. 10 minutes to get off after thinking of gay sex and doing all the work. Tsk. Ohwell, I’m sure, and hoping, she’ll be a small fling.
Also, sorry if I’m incorrect ( and the fact I can’t do that cool little thing to make a block )
“I had a pair of white dress slacks that looked petty good with it.”
Petty = pretty?
Mmm, I do like Violet. Especially the whole subtle artist-not subtle major thing. Missy lost a lot of points, though.
I think I might like Violet. Have to wait and see.
I hope Missy finds a relationship that does more for her than just get her rocks off. Assuming that she’s actually looking for more than sex-fodder, anyway.
I’m not really a big fan of the stereotypical uke/seme (sp?) relationship but I have to admit that I like thinking of Jamie as pretty :3
Thanks for the fun chapter AE!
Nice. Really liking the way the feel of this differs from the original. And OOOK. Ah, getting to OOOK on a Friday night–the only benefit of having a lame social life.
aw, Jamie’s so cute. Missy’s just… ugh.
well, seems like violet is another one to add to the “shameless” list….i like ‘em like that.
also, missy is getting to be a crap character
Language of Flowers:
Peony equals shyness—
And pink is for girls
White rose is silence
Or innocence or virtue
Or, yes, secrecy
Pearl also denotes
Innocence and purity—
But also marriage
Mook!
I seriously cannot wait for the date! And yay for Jamie talking to the girls… although they do say that guys who hang out with mostly girls are either gay or really like one of them… Maybe in Jamie’s case both! also yay for him finally talking to Iolana.
Omigod I want to be a subtle artist.
Man, Missy sure is relaxed and a little smug about some of her sexuality, but so judgy about other parts. Any open mindedness is good, but it does kind of chafe me a bit that she probably considers herself in the know about these things. But to be fair, I guess open mindedness is a gradient, like so many other things about us people.
I think this might be a typo: “I got my dress shoes, and realized after I’d put them on that I was shorter in them than I did in my street shoes.” Should either be “I looked shorter in them” or “than I was in my street shoes.”
I really like the line “The thought, purple-colored and smelling of violets, had nudged its way into my brain”–I love the idea of someone’s thoughts have colors and scents!
“Either she or her shirt was named Jessica.” that for some reason was one of the funniest things ive read in a long time. Thanks for another great chapter
Yeah I am really not liking Missy one darn bit. However its nice to see Jamie gettin out and visiting more with other people on his floor.
Seems to have not been said:
“I was shorter in them than I did in my street shoes. ”
One of those verbs needs to be changed.
Will all the Missy critics please remember she is willing to do him? Jaime may have wider tastes than the average boy, but that is still something really important. Cut her some slack.
You know, I don’t think I’d take Jamie’s outfit without at least a tie or a jacket. It’s always seemed kinda lazy to me to go with just a dress shirt and nice pants for a dress occasion. But that’s just me.
Also, I’m thinking Jamie might be happier if he tries a few girls other than Missy. Dunno how she’d feel about that, but at this point, I don’t really care much. She’s shaping up to be annoying to an extreme, and I think even Jamie’s noticing. I say he should go for Violet. In the even that he wants more than a sex buddy, she seems (from the little bit we’ve seen of her) like she’d be fun to hang around with.
Finally, now taking bets on how long it takes Missy to try to seduce Iason, and if she’ll let him do anal once he gives in.
@17 Andy
What makes you think Missy’s going to try and seduce Iason?
I kind of get the feeling he won’t be too interested in her.
@16 David Argall Jamie’s problem with Missy is that she is not so much willing to do him as she is willing to use him to do herself. Pleasure shared is pleasure increased, but she is only interested in him as fantasy fodder and handy living dildo. She does not appear to be all that much interested in him. Prior chapters have demonstrated how little she pays attention to anything he says if it doesn’t fit in her yaoi fangirl image of him.
Violet does seem to be an interesting character. I hope we get to see more of her.
OOK!
@3 I don’t think the fact that Jamie had passionate sex with one guy and lame sex with one woman says anything about his sexuality. Clearly, he is bisexual. He is attracted to members of both genders. The passion he is experiencing with Iason seems to be unique in his sexual encounters thus far, so it probably has more to do with Iason himself and their chemistry than his gender.
Missy was acting like an inconsiderate lover, but that might be as much out of ignorance as anything else. Many women, particularly those who get a lot of their information from porn as Missy might, think that it takes very little to satisfy I male. Her surprise that he wasn’t finished when she was would seem to support that. She assumes it is a sign of his prowess and staying power, and doesn’t even consider other options like his possible discomfort or need for more stimulation or interaction.
*shiver* Sorry, just a little horror. If Missy has any actual experience in that regard, dying in a fire is too good for her. Of course, I doubt she does, in which case dying in a fire is just right for her.
I’ve always seen sexuality as a gradiant, and Jamie is definately on the pinker end of the scale. But he does also like women, he just dosen’t like them as much and so therefore has much higher standards. But he has pretty high standards to begin with, what with all those elven beauties twirling around. But on the other hand that does give him the sensitivity to understand what it is to be the ‘fat/clumsy/slow kid’ that everyone feels sorry for. I wonder how much different it would be for him to be with a girl he was truly attracted to, not just attracted to the idea of girl! Doing stuff with a Girl!
Missy is truly annoying me now, I know guys like that. They have told me there are girls just like that too and I didn’t really believe it.
And WTF gives with the no foreplay, no clit stimulation or anything like? And never a mention or thought or vauge euphemism about cunnilingus? Am I totally confused by being lesbian and only having very oral relationships? Is this how straight girls are? For real? Only sticking things in for play or for real and ignoring the clit like it’s just an exceptionally strange mole?
I am very enthralled by these stories, in part because of the view it sheds such interesting light and puts personification to memes that I otherwise have a hard time believing. I would almost be temted to think that AE has some phobia or hang up on the subject of female genitalia and sexual pleasure. What with both her main characters of two stories having such issues. But then we have words for people who confuse the thoughts and opinions of charcters with those of the author- we call these people idiots. I (being the contrarian that I am) tend to think the opposite, that she is very much about vagina-empowerment, the kind of person who has an autographed copy of “The Vagina Monologues” and is using these characters to expose and display how much repressed and internalised misogny can tear a woman apart. You don’t need the patriarcy to keep you down if you keep yourself down.
My ex was a chronic masterbater (much like I think Missy is) and she was never interested in foreplay, either.
@ Squeeks 21:
Because Iason’s a hot half-elf. At some point, she’ll get bored with the quarter-elf, or one of them will realize that it’s not working out. I doubt Iason will be that interested in it, but she’ll probly be annoying and relentless until he gives in.
MOOK!
Back in college, I probably would have loved having a girl like Missy in my life, for the free sex. As a reader, she annoys me as a character.
Also, I’m jumping on the Violet bandwagon. More Violet please!
@28 Andy
I’d forgotten about that elf fetish of hers. maybe we’ll get lucky and she’ll go straight to Treehome to try and score some full elves?
@26 Blue She did go for clitoral stimulation the first time during the act. I get the impression that fantasy is her idea of foreplay. Both times they had sex she got herself worked up before the two of them started on each other. There is also the strong impression that she is not a very experienced lover. There are likely many things she would enjoy doing during sex that she doesn’t know about and hasn’t tried. Some of her tendency towards vanilla sex may be because her high school lover(s) was just as unimaginative.
Chrinos said…
“@16 Jamie’s problem with Missy is that she is not so much willing to do him as she is willing to use him to do herself. Pleasure shared is pleasure increased, but she is only interested in him as fantasy fodder and handy living dildo. She does not appear to be all that much interested in him. Prior chapters have demonstrated how little she pays attention to anything he says if it doesn’t fit in her yaoi fangirl image of him.”
You say that like it was a bad thing.
The saying goes “There is no such thing as bad sex, only good and better.” Now maybe we file Missy under good, but she’s still easy meat and our boy is having to soften his tool several times a day.
Now Jamie is looking at other women, and this is likely a good idea, but Missy still counts as a good part of his life.
Sorry, David, but I have to side with those who see Missy as pretty much a dud as a lover. She knows Jamie’s stamina already, and she can certainly see and feel that he wasn’t satisfied by the quickie, but she got her nut and ran, leaving him all worked up without making sure he got his. That is just plain selfish of her, almost to a level of Puddy’s behaviour. She could have at least offered to take care of him manually or orally.
I like Lonnie and especially like Violet, both of whom could assume a larger role in Jamie’s life. Violet in particular could bring him a Kate Bush sexual experience akin to making love while in a Vulcan mind meld if she chooses to do so. Thank you, AE, for expanding this cast with more sympathetic characters.
Either change “did” to a second “was”, or else change the existing “was” to “looked”.
That may be the saying, but it doesn’t mean it’s true. For Jamie, what happened with Missy in this chapter was most certainly “bad sex”.
Missy is using him. He didn’t get off in this exchange at all, if I’m reading it right- she got herself off and ran, leaving him to clean up the mess and release his own sexual tension. She’s a useless whore who doesn’t deserve a relationship, and it’s just not right.
She reminds me of my ex, which makes me hate her very, very much.
Andy @ 20, RE: Jamie’s outfit.
When selecting the shirt, Jamie observes
So his choices are made with the idea that he can easily adjust the degree of formality after Iason arrives.
@ Luddite 36:
Perhaps. I was more trying to say that I would have either gone with a tie or a different shirt. I think the tie would be the better bet, since it’s almost always better to be overdressed than under. (The main exception that comes to mind is something like McDonald’s) Especially since Iason said he would take Jjamie out to a nice dinner. From how much Iason has already lavished on Jamie, I’m willing to bet it’ll be someplace really nice.
A strand (not a necklace) of pearls? Hmmm. . .
Subtle artists are threatening by nature. I bet they have to dodge a lot of punches.
Man, are they ANY healthy relationships on the M.U. campus?
Probably about as many as there’d be in real life, which is to say, not many. =\
I guess healthy relationships don’t make for interesting stories, though.
You know, I’m starting to like this better than the original, though that’s been doing great the past few days as well…Heh. Arf!
Anyway, I hope people start calling her Iolana. It’s sexy and slightly exotic. Lonnie on the other hand, sounds like a boring girl from some small village.
And, more Violet please! Though, while she comes off as nice in this chapter, I think she could very well become a force of Evil – sneaking into people’s mind without permission, reading their thoughts andadding thoughts of her own. Dee holds back so only the strongest things get through; Violet just casualy reads his surface thoughts. I know I’d be annoyed – especially if I was staring at a nice girl’s eyes *cough*.
Typo: “My cock responded even if my mind wasn’t” should probably either be “was interested” and “wasn’t” or like this, but with “didn’t”.
My mind often isn’t, too.
Admirers of Violet: Does it not bother you at all that she casually reads people’s minds and inserts thoughts into them? In a world where subtle arts are actually taught and encouraged, you’d think the rules about it would be more strict outside of class.
“Hardening mass”?? Uh….what a sexy description.
@ Thorny 42:
I’m gonna assume that, like always, there’s a lot going on that we don’t know about. Could be that she only does it with people she knows would be receptive. Granted, that still means she has to sift through a mind a bit, but I’ll bet she’s had enough practice it’s almost instant by now.
“had went” –> “had gone”?
I think I’d like Violet as a friend, but maybe not as a long term lover. I dunno. I’d probably be very attracted to her, as I like witchy looking girls, and purple streaks in dark hair is uber-hot to me.
I don’t think that not enjoying being used as a living dildo(did you know that firefox doesn’t accept dildo as being spelled correctly? suggestions: dido) makes Jamie slide more towards the pink end of the sexuality slider. Its happened to me, and its definitely annoying, and insulting, and not very hot. I think his fantasizing about Iason all day slides him more towards the pink end of the scale.