nano 2010

[perfect_enigma]

Warm sun wrapped around him. He sighed softly and shifted closer to the solid form against his chest, feeling soft curves under his hands. He didn’t bother opening his eyes, just buried himself deeper into her. His nose fit easily against her neck, tickled by long hair but he didn’t care. She smelled like the sun and grass and what nature would smell like if it still existed outside their little home. The world was covered in coal and cobble, all of it paved now for the fast moving gyro mobiles while above them, far up into the clouds moved the grand and glorious air ships. Armies fought their battles now high above the heads of citizens. Except along borders which had become dead, no man’s lands. As if each empire was trying to carve the map lines into the earth itself.

She sighed and rolled so her face was against his collar. Soft lips gently covered where the bone pressed against skin, kissing gently. He smiled, relaxed and comfortable. He never wanted to open his eyes again and face the world. The sun was never bright anymore but as it slid higher into the sky the warmth moved away from his skin so he held on tighter to her, holding her closer to share the warmth that always seemed to radiate off of her. His hands spread over her back, covering as much skin as possible. He could feel each vertebrae under his fingers. Carefully, he traced the bumps down, under the blanket to the gentle curve of her rear. She laughed breathlessly against his skin, wrapping her own arms around his neck, gentle fingers tangling loosely in his hair. He spared an absent thought on cutting it at some point soon but quickly pushed it aside. His eyes slitted open so he could look down at her and she was smiling up at him.

“I was waiting for you to wake up.” She teased, stretching her neck to press a kiss to his nose.

“I hope you weren’t waiting long.”

She shook her head, soft hair flying everywhere.  “No. But for you I would wait.” His voice caught in his throat and he leaned down to catch her lips in a slow, easy kiss. It was not the first time she had told him something similar, but each time he was so amazed. His own private sun and she loved him. Her hands tightened in his hair and they fit together perfectly. Experienced at the slow movements that brought them closer.

A horrible grating noise ended the moment. With a sigh he rolled away, reaching for the buzz. She didn’t move, and one of his hands remained trapped under her, keeping him trapped to the bed. He still managed to reach the radio.

“Yes?”

“Orpheus.” Someone said briskly through the connection. It was staticy and harsh. Even through the better than average connection they got in the palace, the kinks still hadn’t been worked out. It was said that across the water, Edison had figured something out for Washington but it was only a rumor. They dealt little with Washington, it was too far to send an army either way, and there was nothing over there that was needed on the continent. He had heard stories of the first imports. Of strange fruits and beans that had come across with the ships. The people there were dark skinned (though not as dark as the Barbars) and spoke strange languages. They had spotted animals whose skins they wore and things like gunpowder and steam had never made their way over there until Espaniola first made their crossing. “Commander Oagre is requesting your presence sir.”

Orpheus sighed and twisted his head to look back at his lover. She had moved to lie half across his chest, arms folded neatly over his pectorals. Almost daintily. She bit her lip to smother a laugh of amusement. “When does he need me by?” Orpheus asked, looking back at the radio before he got distracted.

“As soon as possible.”

She shimmied closer and he could feel her lips on his cheek and he was trying hard now to purposefully not look but she was there at the corner of his eye, long hair ghosting over and around him and it was easy to forget about the radio. “You can’t deny the commander.” She murmured.

“I know.” He whispered back. “Where?”

“In the briefing room.”

“Right. I will be there as soon as possible.” He said, resignedly and clicked the radio off. Immediately she was there, kissing him again, sealing their lips together and it was heat brighter than the sun. For the moment, the orders were forgotten and he lost himself in her, in soft breasts and gentle curves.

“I love you my magician.” She whispered when she finally let go. He groaned and tried to reach back for her, but she was already out of reach, pulling the blanket up over her nude form. “But you have to go.”

“What if I don’t want to?” He tugged teasingly at his edge of the blanket, drawing a light laugh from her and she very firmly pulled it back.

“That is not your decision.” She reprimanded. One long finger pointed to the closet. “Your uniform sir.” Reluctantly he followed the finger and pulled out the stiff wool clothing, pressed by the cleaning staff the night before. It was always precise and hard lines. Orpheus had never found it comfortable, but as the son of a lord he had no choice. He left the jacket loose across his chest, feeling the cool metal of the buttons against his bare skin. He was still warm, probably flushed but it didn’t matter. He moved back to the bed and sat at the edge by her to pull on his boots. Her blanket had been replaced by a corset and slip. His fingers traced the curve imposed on her body by hard bone. While  he could see the beauty in it, it wasn’t her.

“Do you remember the first time I saw you?” He asked quietly, pulling her into his lap for another kiss. She laughed and nodded, fingers doing up each button one by one without looking away from his face. “You were dancing in the garden.”

“My mother was very upset.”

“You were only in a night dress.”

“It was a full moon.”

“And your skin glowed.”

She blushed brightly and pushed away from him, doing a quick spin in her under clothes in front of him. “There. I have danced for you again. You must go meet the commander.” She waved her finger sternly in an obvious imitation of her mother. He gave her back a sharp salute in response. Anything to make her smile. But she was right and he knew that, so he ran a hand quickly over his chest, checking all the buttons. His boots were on and tied and he blew her one last kiss.

“I will play for you this evening if you’ll allow it my lady.”

“Of course. I live for your music.” She curtsied and brought out her skirt to change into once Orpheus left.

“Good bye Eurydice.” He called over his shoulder as he reached the door.

“Leave already Orpheus!” Eurydice smiled, taking any bite out of her words. Orpheus ducked out of the door into the long hall. Since it was the living area, efforts had been made to keep the area bright. Sky lights pierced brick walls, but the outside light was grimy at best. Maybe once, it had been beautiful and sunny but those days were gone. Flowers were placed along the hall and the usual dim gas lamps had been replaced by fancy new Tesla lamps.

Once he was away from the living wing, everything quickly changed. Electric was replaced with static and windows before few and far between. The outer ring of rooms, which encircled the living area at the very middle of which was the elaborate garden supposed to bring to mind the mythical Hanging Gardens, were lined with metal. The halls here were the most solid. Metal over brick over metal, reaching up into the sky. There were even a few landing pads for airships at the very top. Large brass fans slowly moved the air around inside, otherwise it became suffocating.

The briefing room was high up. Orpheus was a pilot. The wind rushing over the ships sounded like music to him. One day, when his service was complete he vowed to travel. To fly his own ship and go wherever he wanted. If he was ever allowed. He was a prince of the realm, and there were always new obligations for him.

Oagre was already waiting for him in the briefing room and he snapped a quick salute to the commander.

“Orpheus.” Oagre greeted curtly, as stiff as his uniform. “The king has a special assignment. There has been word that the kingdom of Colchis has mobilizing. It’s been awhile since they’ve been shown their place it seems.”

“What am I to do sir?” Orpheus interrupted politely before Oagre could start waxing poetically about the ‘good old days’ when there was peace (Orpheus never believed him but he could never say that. The war was endless, Orpheus had been raised with the belief that anyone not Thessalian were not human, Colchis especially. Even the southern Barbar kingdoms were treated better than a child from Colchis).

“Raze them.” Oagre gestured him closer. When Orpheus approached he could see the map spread out over the table. Oagre traced the line of the border. “From here to here.” He indicated one section of the line with his hands. “It will be their most likely route towards us. There will be a few other pilots with the same mission at other spots on the border.”

“Understood sir.”

Oagre nodded and straightened slightly. Orpheus understood that as his cue and he raised in his hand in tight salute. “You will leave this evening, fly to Amaria to refuel. There you will receive specific coordinates and complete your mission.”

“Yes sir.”

“Good. Dismissed.” Oagre flicked his hand in a casual gesture and Orpheus turned on his heel, leaving the commander behind. He made his way up higher and higher until he reached the decks. The door out to each was labeled with a series of numbers and letters which indicated to anyone who knew the code what ship was behind the door, her name and designation. Behind each door was roughly six feet of floor space and then the ship was attached to the side of the building, with only a small edge underneath her incase the moorings failed. Orpheus had never heard of it happening.

Orpheus went up to more floors to a restricted area. Here was his ship, the graceful Melpomene. He let himself into her hanger. He went right up to her, resting his hands on her hull. He stood there a few minutes before there was a knock on the door and it opened again.

“Hey Orphe.” The newcomer greeted. “Got our orders?”

Orpheus smiled at his co-pilot and stepped back from the edge. “We’re razing a strip of the border to cut off a potential attack.”

His co-pilot stretched, he was dressed in only coveralls, the tops of which were tied around his waist. He had not had to report to Oagre for the briefing. “Sounds boring.”

“They’re our orders.”

“I know, I know. I wasn’t going to not follow them.” He vaulted easily onto the nose of the ship, not bothered by the height he was at. Orpheus shrugged off his coat so his arms could stretch high enough to follow.

“So.” He glanced around, taking in the sleek lines leading to the wings stretching out over space. “Are we ready?”

“We’ll have to take care of a few things first. She probably needs new canvas. That last mission punched a few holes in them. Nothing we couldn’t fly with, but nothing I want to fly with.”

“We leave tonight.” Orpheus pointed out.

“We can’t make it to the border in a night!” Linus immediately argued.

Orpheus shook his head. “We’re stopping in Amaria. Can we get the canvas there?”

“You’ve seen Amaria.”

“It’s a fuel stop, I know.” Orpheus said in resignation.

Neither said anything. Telling the commander that they couldn’t complete the mission was not even an option for either of them. “We can get the canvas now and install it there.” Linus finally suggested, standing carefully on the nose of the ship and making his way towards the wings, resting a hand on Orpheus’ head for balance.