By the time R’Vindr hoisted her carefully out of the chair, Ketna had the sense of mind to begin grounding herself and return to reality. Ketna nestled herself against R’Vindr's chest, getting what comfort and closeness she could out of being carried by him, knowing it would be the most she would get.
"You’re lucky I like you." He remarked, hefting her a bit in his arms to balance his hold of her before he moved.
Ketna grunted her appreciation for his uncharacteristic attention, against his chest.
“Anyone else I’d give them a hand up and a glass of water, but you, you’re spoiled next to everyone else.” Taken at face value it could seem like chiding, but by his tone Ketna could tell it was good-natured.
Ketna huffed a laugh and muttered a “Thank you.”, ensuring her head was faced outward so he could hear it.
“Consider it compensation for letting me use you as a living masturbation toy for the last few hours. Though I don’t know why you put up with it if you need this much aftercare.” R’Vindr placed Ketna down at the corner of the couch. “You keep saying this is enough, but I know you’re lying.”
He presented Ketna with the folded weighted blanket, not needing any confirmation from her. She took it slowly, taking practiced motions to let it drop so she could wrap it around herself. He was right, she needed a lot more than this, but it was mutually understood that it wasn’t his ‘thing’ or interest to be affectionate. This ritual of shared video browsing and a weighted blanket was the best either of them could negotiate out of this arrangement. R’Vindr took his usual spot next to her on the couch.
"You need a boyfriend." He teased after seating himself.
Ketna groaned before she answered with only just enough annunciation. "Easier said than done."
The television glowed on, R’Vindr controlling everything in the house invisibly as he always did. There was some quiet between the two, as if expecting Ketna to elaborate but she had nothing to add to that.
“... I suppose that would be difficult given your circumstance-” R’Vindr turned his head to Ketna. “Is the whole face covering thing an all-the-time situation or-”
“Yeah, it’s all the time.” Ketna sounded resigned when she answered.
R’Vindr studied Ketna a moment before speaking.
“Is there anyone you don’t wear a mask around?” He asked.
Ketna paused to consider her response. The somber topic pulled some clarity from the afterglow fog, when she finally spoke, it was clearer than the last time.
“Yeah, Munin, I’ve mentioned him before. But he’s just as uninterested in physical affection as you are- and no, we're not fucking. He’s a close friend, but that’s never been a part of our relationship.” She shifted under the blanket, adjusting it. “We do the same thing when I need comfort. Get myself wrapped up in a weighted blanket and he sits next to me and we just talk.”
“That pulls a lot of things into perspective.”
Ketna nodded, acknowledging she heard.
There was a beat of quiet between them, sound from the barely noticed television took up the space until R'Vindr talked over it, again.
“Do you have anyone you can be all… cuddly with?”
“Not really. I have a few partners that are more intimate after sex, but that’s it. But only after the hookup, not anyone to just… be held by for no reason.” Ketna turned her head to face R’Vindr. “I don’t mind this line of discussion, but what’s with all the questions about my personal life, specifically my access to intimacy? Not something I expected from you.”
R’Vindr took a moment’s pause before he spoke. “The longer I’ve spent time with you the more..” He made a gesture with his hand, searching for the word. “Worn out I can tell you are. I like you well enough to hope you’re doing something about it.”
Ketna laughed softly. “Episodes of binge sex, is what I do about it.”
R’Vindr chuckled in kind, then a thoughtful pause before he continued.
“The motivation for my concern, however, is ultimately self-serving.” R’Vindr’s tone shifted to something more stern. “It is risk-assessment. I’m attempting to ensure that the expectation of intimate closeness between us won’t escalate. I like you, but I’m never going to have feelings beyond general fondness. I tolerate this-” R’Vindr gestured between the two of them on the couch “Out of that fondness. And I need to know that you know, this is the absolute limit. That you're not consciously or otherwise, banking on me to be the one to provide you with anything more. I don’t want some debt of intimacy I never asked for."
"Oh believe me, that won't happen." Ketna assured emphatically. "You are the exact definition of a fuck buddy to me and I have no desire to go beyond that." She chuckled as the words formed in her head before she delivered them. "Rest assured I only want you for your
body."
"Well thank you." R'Vindr sounded humored but sincere. "Relieved to hear we're on the same page."
Ketna stretched in place, between the time passed and conversation, she felt sober enough to get moving. After pushing the blanket aside she was on her feet. R'Vindr appeared to be staring off while Ketna hoisted her bag from its usual spot to make for the washroom. She thought nothing of it until she heard his voice again.
"You wouldn't mind if I introduced you to someone in a less anonymous way, right?" He called out to her while not leaving his spot.
"You're not planning on setting me up on a blind date, are you?" Ketna sounded almost offended, but amused.
"Of course not, this is a hookup not a date. But this guy is the cuddly type." R'Vindr paused in speech while sending a contact internally. "You've never crossed paths because he doesn't show up for the open invites. He's not keen on orgies or detached sex."
Ketna laughed. "How did you two get involved if he's not into detached sex?" She left the washroom open to continue the conversation.
R'Vindr rose from the couch to follow her so they were no longer raising their voices at one another. "I made his entire sexual sensory system in addition to his sex mods. I hijack it from time to time to get feedback from whoever he's fucking, or just fuck with him." Upon reaching the washroom, he leaned himself against the frame of the door. "Consensually, of course." He added.
Ketna laughed a little louder. "That makes so much more sense." She finished up with her clean off and began to re-dress.
It's closing in toward the end of Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week and I doubt I'll get this fic finished by sunday so I'll share this one particular scene with R'Vindr and Ketna that matters a lot to me.
#aromantic #arospec #LLwrites #heofona #r'vindr #ketna #oc #fic
