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erastesWhoops. told a porkie yesterday. said i'd got to 12666, and i hadnt, i'd only got to 12006, which was still over target.
however target reached today. yay!
13345
"Sit down for a moment," Michael said gently, "It is best that we discuss this now, for you must not show any fear or uncertainty when we go in, the Devil will take advantage of you." He sat on the soft green sward and pulled Jonathan down. "I had the same fears, when I began, believe me. My mortal soul is the most precious thing I have and I guard it as zealously as I do my chastity." He took Jonathan's hand in both of his. "How could I ever consider taking an innocent life, when I would be damned for eternity? God will not let this happen, and we must trust in him. I am not as adapt as Mistress Phillips, nor do I have the insight of Matthew or know the right questions as infallibly as John Stearne, but I trust in the Lord. He has never let me down yet."
"What will we do?" asked Jonathan, flushing as he realised that Michael still held his hand in his.
"We will talk to the woman, and we will use our eyes. If we have any suspicions we will say nothing, and leave it to the others. We cannot search her person for signs of witches marks or strange additional malformities such as witches have; not without Goody Phillips, but if we suspect her of harbouring familiars such as the Clarke witch did, or of performing the rites her neighbours say they have witnessessed, then we have the right to have her arrested and charged. We can perform the trials, if we are in any doubt, ducking, pricking; either will suffice, but I would rather question her first. I don't like even to duck an innocent." Michael slid his fingers to intertwine with Jonathan's, "please don't worry, if she has nothing to hide, she has nothing to fear."
Thus reassured, Jonathan stood, pulling Michael up with him, their hands still linked. Michael was slightly too close to him as he stood, his slender body brushing against his as he gained his balance, giving him that secret smile that Jonathan hadn't seen him give to anyone else. Was Michael trying to tell him that he knew? That he understood Jonathan's perversions? Shared them?
Jonathan shook these thoughts away; Michael was a friend, beautiful, granted, but not all beautiful men were attracted to men. Jonathan had learned that beautiful men being attracted to men was anything but common.
In the army, grabbed and pressed one night with Adam as they walked in the violet dusk from [Jon's village??] to Kineton, Jonathan had learned much about men's sexual needs. Away from women, men turned to men as being the next best thing, not for companionship, or soul-bonding, or love, but for sheer physical gratification. There were a few there who took what they wanted, but most were safe from unwarranted advances; it was the slighter, more boyish soldiers who were favourite, and Jonathan, being tall, broad, flat cheeked, dark haired, was not considered attractive enough to bother with.
He had had an occasional hint, here and there, but the best way to deal with it he had found was to plead complete ignorance. The whole rutting grunting performances disgusted him, being a world away from his sweet sexual experiences, but he felt sinfully aroused when he heard others late at night, heard the unmistakable sounds of creaking beds, slapping flesh and groans of completion. He had been ashamed to be so aroused, but he had been unable to control the lusts of his body from responding with an iron-aching hardness which he could only relieve by the shame of masturbation, shutting his eyes tight to the dismal squalor of whatever billet he was in, and imaging he was stroking himself as he watched David writhe before him, teasing and endlessly needful.
Nor had he been attracted to any other man, how could he lust after most of the unwashed unshaven grunting savages in the regiment when he had known the nymph-like perfection of his golden summer boy? Even the younger recruits did not tempt him, for they were too popular, and his skin crawled to think how many beds they had shared. The signals that Michael were giving were subtle but clear and for the first time in over a year Jonathan was uncertain whether to squeeze that hand in his, to pull Michael a little closer and to let his breath gust over his neck in an acceptance of the soft invitation.
This was not the time, at least, he knew that much, so he simply pulled Michael up and let their hands separate. "I trust you," he said simply, merely as something to say, to break the lingering languid silence, "and I will be guided by you." It seemed that this was precisely the correct thing to say, as he was rewarded with a deep heartfelt smile and a whispered,
"And I will be your guide," from his friend.
however target reached today. yay!
13345
"Sit down for a moment," Michael said gently, "It is best that we discuss this now, for you must not show any fear or uncertainty when we go in, the Devil will take advantage of you." He sat on the soft green sward and pulled Jonathan down. "I had the same fears, when I began, believe me. My mortal soul is the most precious thing I have and I guard it as zealously as I do my chastity." He took Jonathan's hand in both of his. "How could I ever consider taking an innocent life, when I would be damned for eternity? God will not let this happen, and we must trust in him. I am not as adapt as Mistress Phillips, nor do I have the insight of Matthew or know the right questions as infallibly as John Stearne, but I trust in the Lord. He has never let me down yet."
"What will we do?" asked Jonathan, flushing as he realised that Michael still held his hand in his.
"We will talk to the woman, and we will use our eyes. If we have any suspicions we will say nothing, and leave it to the others. We cannot search her person for signs of witches marks or strange additional malformities such as witches have; not without Goody Phillips, but if we suspect her of harbouring familiars such as the Clarke witch did, or of performing the rites her neighbours say they have witnessessed, then we have the right to have her arrested and charged. We can perform the trials, if we are in any doubt, ducking, pricking; either will suffice, but I would rather question her first. I don't like even to duck an innocent." Michael slid his fingers to intertwine with Jonathan's, "please don't worry, if she has nothing to hide, she has nothing to fear."
Thus reassured, Jonathan stood, pulling Michael up with him, their hands still linked. Michael was slightly too close to him as he stood, his slender body brushing against his as he gained his balance, giving him that secret smile that Jonathan hadn't seen him give to anyone else. Was Michael trying to tell him that he knew? That he understood Jonathan's perversions? Shared them?
Jonathan shook these thoughts away; Michael was a friend, beautiful, granted, but not all beautiful men were attracted to men. Jonathan had learned that beautiful men being attracted to men was anything but common.
In the army, grabbed and pressed one night with Adam as they walked in the violet dusk from [Jon's village??] to Kineton, Jonathan had learned much about men's sexual needs. Away from women, men turned to men as being the next best thing, not for companionship, or soul-bonding, or love, but for sheer physical gratification. There were a few there who took what they wanted, but most were safe from unwarranted advances; it was the slighter, more boyish soldiers who were favourite, and Jonathan, being tall, broad, flat cheeked, dark haired, was not considered attractive enough to bother with.
He had had an occasional hint, here and there, but the best way to deal with it he had found was to plead complete ignorance. The whole rutting grunting performances disgusted him, being a world away from his sweet sexual experiences, but he felt sinfully aroused when he heard others late at night, heard the unmistakable sounds of creaking beds, slapping flesh and groans of completion. He had been ashamed to be so aroused, but he had been unable to control the lusts of his body from responding with an iron-aching hardness which he could only relieve by the shame of masturbation, shutting his eyes tight to the dismal squalor of whatever billet he was in, and imaging he was stroking himself as he watched David writhe before him, teasing and endlessly needful.
Nor had he been attracted to any other man, how could he lust after most of the unwashed unshaven grunting savages in the regiment when he had known the nymph-like perfection of his golden summer boy? Even the younger recruits did not tempt him, for they were too popular, and his skin crawled to think how many beds they had shared. The signals that Michael were giving were subtle but clear and for the first time in over a year Jonathan was uncertain whether to squeeze that hand in his, to pull Michael a little closer and to let his breath gust over his neck in an acceptance of the soft invitation.
This was not the time, at least, he knew that much, so he simply pulled Michael up and let their hands separate. "I trust you," he said simply, merely as something to say, to break the lingering languid silence, "and I will be guided by you." It seemed that this was precisely the correct thing to say, as he was rewarded with a deep heartfelt smile and a whispered,
"And I will be your guide," from his friend.
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*looks at icon*
Date: 2004-11-08 05:09 pm (UTC)So holier than thou M is angling for some company...
no subject
Date: 2004-11-08 06:30 pm (UTC)