viceindustrious: (Coward)
viceindustrious ([personal profile] viceindustrious) wrote2010-12-13 10:02 pm

Fic: Censer

Title: Censer
Fandom: Sherlock Holmes 2009
Pairing: Blackwood/Coward
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine, just playing.
Summary: Bathing rituals.
Word count: 350
Notes: Written for day thirteen of the [livejournal.com profile] adventchallenge. Prompt: Frankincense .

Coward has the preparation of his body down to a fine art.

Sticks of incense smoulder on the dressing table in tiny clusters of light, their ends glow like dying stars. The bathtub is huge, gleaming and immaculate. The bathtub is an altar of brass where steam rises like breath or smoke or as if some hot, still twitching body has been split open in the cold air.

He is thorough and fast and practised in every act. His hands move by rote over his skin now, but he does not forget why he does this. It may appear methodical, but it is a religious sort of ecstasy that allows him to step out of his body and preen it to perfection.

Anointing himself with oil, he will strip his flesh smooth with a straight razor. Unsatisfied until his body is as hairless as the cattle horn handle of the razor itself, there is barely an inch of him that does not feel the kiss of the blade. He will be a dazzling utensil for his master.

The tips of his fingers massage his scalp, a pumice stone for his feet, a small silver pair of scissors to trim his nails. The bathwater is warm and perfumed and his hands are soft from a life of luxury, but although his life yet remains one of pleasure, it is no longer his own. He does not take any longer than necessary in the water, closes his mind to the indulgence of his own touch and sets to polishing himself pristine.

He paints the lines of his eyes with charred frankincense and that and his collar are the only adornments he is required to wear as he kneels by the foot of the bed.

"You may leave, Coward," Blackwood says when he returns that night.

There is a girl with him. He does not look at Coward as he gives the dismissal.

Coward bows his head, although Blackwood's eyes are still not on him, are on the girl as she sighs in his arms. As he kisses her.

Tomorrow, Coward will begin the ritual over.

[identity profile] the-me09.livejournal.com 2010-12-13 10:23 pm (UTC)(link)
..... *sob*

[identity profile] the-me09.livejournal.com 2010-12-14 07:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Alright, back with more coherence.

IDK why this hit me so hard, like, I've read worse, but this just PUNCHED ME!

At first I was all, awww Coward's getting prettied up for his man, and then BAM CRUEL!

And I suppose the juxtaposition of these lines: are on the girl as she sighs in his arms. As he kisses her. and some of the lines I had just written before reading this where Coward is basically doing what the girl is doing, just... oh, oh poor Coward!

You fantastically evil person you!

[identity profile] viceindustrious.livejournal.com 2010-12-15 10:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Fantastically evil is always a compliment I am glad to receive, thank you! >:D

[identity profile] scrapbullet.livejournal.com 2010-12-14 12:10 am (UTC)(link)
This is absolutely gorgeous. I actually have no words for it. ♥

[identity profile] viceindustrious.livejournal.com 2010-12-15 10:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Those are lovely words enough, thanks so much, lamb. :3

[identity profile] darthhellokitty.livejournal.com 2010-12-14 06:34 am (UTC)(link)
Oh! All that preparation for nothing...

[identity profile] viceindustrious.livejournal.com 2010-12-15 10:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Being with Blackwood is a tough job at times... :D

[identity profile] inamac.livejournal.com 2010-12-14 08:46 am (UTC)(link)
Oh that is so casually cruel. So very Blackwood.

Love the sensual preparation though. And am rather stuck on this line: his body is as hairless as the cattle horn handle of the razor itself. Your writing is so precise and evocative.

[identity profile] viceindustrious.livejournal.com 2010-12-15 10:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, thank you very much. This comment of yours made me incredibly happy, you have no idea!

[identity profile] secret-smile19.livejournal.com 2010-12-14 07:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Poor Coward. SO SAD. T_____T

[identity profile] viceindustrious.livejournal.com 2010-12-15 10:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Sometimes it's fun to see the perils of dating a, umm, person of dubious moral character. :P

[identity profile] timewillrewind.livejournal.com 2010-12-17 05:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, Blackwood. You evil, evil person.

[identity profile] babydracky.livejournal.com 2010-12-18 02:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Awww! Poor little thing. I wouldn't mind pet him if he ever feels alone!:p