Vinyl is Better (For stark_ravingmad)

[ziggyplayedguitar]

[Continued from here]

It was late in the evening when Tony finally sent a message back. Ziggy didn't mind. He didn't sleep and even if he did, right now he probably wouldn't. They talk records mostly as they walk the short distance toward his home which is on the very outskirts of the plaza but not as far as his parents live from the center. The The first floor townhouse he lives in, which is a converted office space, is easy to spot with its teal facade and golden disk over the gold framed door. The inside is very Ziggy with tall the bright colors and open layout.

There are two cats that come running. One is a pretty normal black cat with white paws. The other is orange with teal tabby stripes and red wings. Ziggy greets both of them before turning to Tony.

"Make yourself at home." He smiles and sets the vinyls down to put away soon. "Do you want a drink?"

He didn't necessarily mean alcoholic since he knew Tony was recovering. "The vinyls are in the living room if you want to put something on."

In the area where most people would have a TV, Ziggy has a record player with nice speakers. A side cabinet, almost like a kitchen pantry, with a glass door holds the several hundred records Ziggy has with him. There are a wide variety of genres; rock, soul, blues, disco, punk, early new wave. From Tony's perspective there's nothing in the collection past his own 1983 and some of the dates don't make sense. Records he knows from the 70s have recorded dates in the 80s or even early 90s.

Comments

[stark_ravingmad]

The walk back was mostly filled with Tony talking about vinyls and other such music-related trivia. It was then they arrived at Ziggy's townhouse, which was pretty impresive.

"Aw, aren't you two guys cute?"

Upon entering the house Tony bent down to offer the cats some tickles and strokes when he noticed that one of them; the orange with teal tabby stripes, had wings. Actual wings. Yeah, totally not a normal cat. But then, he was about to spend an awesome evening with Ziggy, who was half alien. Normal was so out-dated in the Nexus anyway. The engineer offered his host a friendly smile and nodded regarding the drink.

"Sure. How about a mocktail of some kind. Surprise me, Hot-Pants."

Walking into the living room, Tony picked out a vinyl from Ziggy's rather impressive collection and slipped it onto the record player. Choosing "Paint it Black" by the Rolling Stones. It seemed a good choice. Stepping back to sidle up next to Ziggy, Tony wondered what he would drink.

"Epic choice of vinyls, pal. But then, I wouldn't expect less for someone of your music calibre."

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy is gone for a moment and comes back with a mug to offer to Tony. It's coffee and Ziggy is a coffee snob. He will only drink the best coffee he can find.

"I drink Irish Coffees. Fuck if I know how to make a fake one so I made you a peppermint mocha. It seemed right for the season."

He heads into the living room and sits on the rather large, plush sofa. With the sensitivity of Anthean joints in the higher, Earth-like, gravity all the furniture has an exaggerated softness and plush cushioning.

"Honestly, my father started this collection when he was in flight training school for NASA." Ziggy mentions as the cats come up to lay on the back of the couch while they sit. "I've added to it a lot in the past two years."

[stark_ravingmad]

The thing Tony noticed whilst putting the vinyl on was just a slight variation in temperature Ziggy's house was. Maybe the guy preferred it a little cooler to most or it was to do with his alien heritage. It didn't bother him though, as he offered his host a friendly smile.

"Oh yeah? Not really had too many of those before. As for the peppermint mocha? It's perfect. I live on coffee most days when I'm knee deep in scrap and wires."

The workshop being his man-cave and living space a lot of the time. Taking the coffee, Tony sipped it and hummed in pleasure. Oh yes. The man could make a decent cup of coffee indeed. He sank into one of the comfy chairs and turned to face Ziggy, wondering how he was holding up. The guy needed a friend right now and the engineer wanted to be that listening ear.

"He's got good taste. I've met Tom before just briefly as he toured my workshop. Lucky man having you for his kid."

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy did keep his house slightly cooler than humans, though nowhere near the chilly temperatures his mother and Thomas liked.

"Coffee and cocaine." Ziggy laughs and eyes his guest. "Do you mind if I do some lines?"

Ziggy would share but it occurred to him that a man who didn't drink might also refrain from drugs. It would probably even out his emotions and make him feel a bit more sane.

"I drive my father crazy." Oh he did with the arrests and the loudness and everything else. "I wouldn't trade him for anyone though. You should see him go at the interviewers when they insult who I am. It's a sight for sure."

Ziggy loved his father, both of his parents, but especially his dad. Despite being physically more Anthean, he had definitely inherited big pieces of his dad's personality, including the temper.

[stark_ravingmad]

Tony raised a curious eyebrow at Ziggy's preference for coffee and cocaine but who could fault the guy for his choices? Not wanting to judge he instead shook his head at being bothered by his host's choice and sipped his mocha. His drink was insanely good in fact.

"Hey, uh--the coke. Is it good shit? I mean I haven't done coke in well--years. To be honest I'm not bothered about drugs since it's more booze that's my demon."

If Ziggy wanted to share then Tony would indeed do a few lines with him. Why the hell not? He wasn't a total stick in the mud and the atmosphere was chill. The music playing in the back, good company and fucking good coffee. It might help both men to unwind a little more. As for Tom's relationship with his son? It sounded a damn sight better than the one Tony had with his.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"The best." Ziggy smiled and pulled the coke, glass and razor out of the drawer in the coffee table.

"It's a higher purity than most humans take. I'd start with a single smaller line." Ziggy started cutting with expert precision. He does about five lines at once before sliding it across the table for Tony.

Ziggy's eyes probably looked strange enough with the bright blue and slit eyes. With the coke though his pupils widen and the eyes look very much like the cats sitting with him or some strange snake. The other thing is the whole presence of the space calms like the quiet after a storm. It's Ziggy's mind and his presence calming as the coke takes hold.

[stark_ravingmad]

"Of course. Maybe I shouldn't have asked. I was kind of thinking it was some sort of weird alien coke or something. Don't mind me."

Tony shrugged and rubbed the back of his head with his free hand as he laid his coffee cup down onto the table nearest, whilst glancing at Ziggy cutting up the coke block into lines. The man's precision was perfect and Tony could tell being a perfectionist himself.

"Strong stuff then, huh? Yeah, I'd better go easy if I don't want to start bouncing off your walls."

Those eyes though? They were different and most definitely alien, yet Tony had met aliens before and wasn't put off in the slightest. The strong blue colour was pretty eye-catching actually. Hey, he was dating the devil so seeing Ziggy's eyes was nothing new. Glancing down at the line before him Tony knew what he had to do as he inhaled it quickly, sighing as it entered his sytem.

"This is---yeah--some good shit."

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"It's not alien." Ziggy shakes his head. "The impurities bother me. I get it purer by request."

And it cost. It cost a lot but it was worth it for his sanity. "You've seen me on stage. You aren't going to get more hyperactive than I normally am."

Ziggy could be out of control to the point that humans freaked out over his energy. Sadness and exhaustion had him more subdued for now. A few more lines and that might not be the case.

"What's the point of being famous and using shitty drugs?"

[stark_ravingmad]

Purer? It seemed this guy knew his coke just as much as he knew his coffee. Tony did get the logic around wanting the best being a rock star. That made total sense and Ziggy was a guy who liked the niceties in life. A lot like Tony did.

"Sure. I just wondered since I don't know much about you, Ziggy. Aside from you being a guy who's good with the guitar and can sing. You also know how to throw an awesome party. Always a good thing in my book."

How many parties had Tony Stark thrown and had been in? So many. Most usually ended with him being the centre piece for attention and trashed. He's moved on since that stage in his life now though. Relaxing into the soft chair, Tony sighed in contentment as the drugs began to relax him.

"You know you can always come knocking on my door if you feel lonely, Ziggy. That or you want to chill or listen to some vinyls. Without sounding cliché or anything."

Since he cared? Ziggy looked liked he needed a friend or someone to listen to whatever he needed to get off his chest. Yet, he wouldn't bring bad memories to the surface, not tonight. Not unless Ziggy wished to talk about his fiancé and other things.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"I'll give you the chance to make every interviewer on my Earth jealous." Ziggy started laughing because he could imagine them. They all vied for information from him, and a lesser extent his father. " what do you want to know? Ask anything."

It would also keep his mind occupied and away from the situation at hand. A constant stream of talking wouldn't leave him time to linger on the fact his partner was gone.

"It's not exactly loneliness." Ziggy starts. "Our minds were attached. It's.. I don't know.. like my arm is gone and I don't know why it is gone. I just know it is gone and I am scrambling to try and make due and to figure out how to exist without it and wondering where it went. I don't know if that makes any sense."

Ziggy hadn't made sense of it yet himself even. Explaining it wasn't going to be easy. "There's other things going on too. Things humans don't deal with when people are lost but my species does. It's like being sick, sort of, or crazy... maybe both."

Nevermind that he had slipped back into his diet of cocaine and coffee without much food. That surely wasn't helping but he didn't feel like eating.

[stark_ravingmad]

Tony didn't know what to ask just yet as he was more focused on Ziggy and how he was feeling. What was the guy's state of mind? It seemed he was on a low judging by the need for Irish Coffee and coke. No food at all. The guy was also super thin and that had Tony worried since he knew all about what Ziggy might be going through. At least regarding suffering loss and trying to deal with it through drink and drugs. That route almost never worked.

"Hey, uh--you mind if I order us some pizzas? I'm starving. What flavours do you Antheans like? I can order whatever you want."

Tony had already pulled out his phone and would probably order anyway, just to make sure Ziggy actually ate something. Was he being a bit mother hen? Maybe. More the friend that cares. The guy needed someone to take care of him, right? Someone who had been through a similar situation to Ziggy's, albeit slightly different circumstances. As for him suffering differently to a human? Tony could well believe that and knew it must be worse than what was on the surface.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"Go ahead." He says and then stares when Tony asks what he would want. Nothing doesn't seem like it would be accepted. "No meat. Cured meats and sausage will make me sick."

He shrugs and then notices that Tony seems to still be waiting. Sighing he adds. "Mushrooms, hot peppers, sundried tomatoes, extra olives, and pineapple?"

He wasn't hungry but at the same time his insides twisted up at the prospect of eating. "You might want to get two of those."

Ziggy hadnt eaten but knew once he started it was unlikely to stop for awhile.

[stark_ravingmad]

"Right. So, no cured meats and meat. Got it."

Were Antheans vegetarian? He didn't know but wanted to make sure he wasn't about to make his host sick. Tony himself felt like he wanted a hot chicken with bbq sauce. That sounded so good right now. Picking up the phone he made the order, keeping an eye on Ziggy as he did so.

"Ok, can we have two large pizzas with mushrooms, hot peppers, sundried tomatoes, extra olives and pineapple? Yeah, two large. I also want a large chicken with bbq sauce. Add some extra olives on mine too. Oh--and two large portions of salty fries. Yeah, that's it."

Beeping his phone off, he smiled at Ziggy and slumped back into his chair, finishing off the rest of his mocha. Now, they could soon eat and Tony knew his friend needed something to fill his empty stomach.

"Not long now. Hope you like salty fries, Hot-Pants."

He really hoped the pizzas would help Ziggy with his problem, at least offering some support in the way of a kind friend wanting to help out. It might at least take the sting off the poor guy's predicament, even for a few minutes. Tony's brown eyes focused on his host's powerful blue ones, his fingers just toying with his coffee mug for a few seconds.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy smiles at the comment about fries. "Potatoes are probably the closest thing to something in the Anthean diet from our home." He laughs and picks up his mug. "If you ever want to get on my uncle Thomas' good side; boiled potatoes with vinegar, salt and those fried onion ribbons."

Tommy ate more of those than Ziggy could ever imagine eating. It seemed like 3/4 of his diet sometimes

[stark_ravingmad]

"Oh yeah? Tom likes this sort of stuff? Huh. Guess I'll have to remember that if I invite him around to chill in the workshop. We could binge on salty, vinegar boiled potatoes."

Why not? Hell, it sounded good! Tony was one for exotic and weird foods anyway since he drank weird health shakes and ate vegan, vegetarian and whatever else healthy choices these days. Most of them tasted like crap but hey, at least he was being healthy, right?

"So, uh--aside from music, what else do you like doing?"

Tony was trying to break the ice slowly, just hoping Ziggy would open up and possibly become a little more relaxed. If he just wanted to cry and scream then Tony would also listen to that and help soothe the guy. To be honest he half expected Ziggy to break down and sob since it was on the cards after any breakup. More so since he was affected even more.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"Getting Thomas to leave the house makes everyone feel like Sisyphus." Ziggy jokes but it was true. Only his father was stubborn enough to shoo the old Anthean out the door.

Ziggy shrugs at the question. "A little of everything. I design my costumes and stage gear. I help dad with his NASA projects and mom with her botany research. I write and read. I could probably call sex a hobby at this point but that's more living where no one accepts you and it's a safer form of contact." Even here things got strange and people didn't understand.

"Um.. I can pilot a few different kind of spacecraft. I produce and direct my music videos, paint. I dabble in most of the arts, fashion too." Ziggy was definitely one to try just about anything.

[stark_ravingmad]

The Anthean was certainly talented as Tony raised a curious brow at all the things he was interested in. As for sex being a hobby? That got a quirk of the engineer's lips but he knew what Ziggy meant. Hey, if it soothed the guy then who was he to argue about that? Sex was a good inducer of good feelings with the rush of endorphins flooding the body. Also it felt fucking amazing.

"You're a talented guy, Ziggy. What sort of spacecraft have you piloted? Call it a tech nerds fantasy as such. Also, painting and fashion? Those are decent skills to have too. Fancy designing a suit with me one day? I mean, we could create a totally awesome piece of hardware."

It was a light hearted gesture but none the less Tony was being serious if Ziggy did wish to join him in his workshop one day. The guy had skills and was obviously seriously creative. The space part must come from Tom and also his wife but Tony guessed Ziggy had his own take on things too. There was more to the man behind the guitar it seemed.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"Mostly those piloted with the mind. My mother's ship and.... wellnmy partner was the spirit that inhabited a war ship but could manifest physically. He used to let me take his ship out."

If it was sane to let a coked out rockstar pilot a warship was questionable but it was something he loved doing.

Ziggy smiles. "I'd love to design something for you. I can make reasonable clothing instead if what I usually wear."

The truth was that Ziggy's IQ and intelligence was far past a human but he was still very young by his species standards... barely in his mid teens.

[stark_ravingmad]

Tony was genuinely surprised that Ziggy could actually pilot a ship with his mind. Antheans' mental abilities must be strong if one of them could pull off such a thing. Holy crap but it was impressive for sure. Even Tony didn't even know how such a thing could be achieved except for AI.

"You piloted a ship with your mind? That's some seriously cool shit right there, Hot-Pants. I've only used AI to pilot my suits with my voice and visual interface."

Was he impressed? Hell yeah. As for designing with Ziggy? The temptation was too much for someone like Tony Stark, who was always tinkering. Was it an obsession? Yes, it was.

"Hey, you know what? Go wild, Ziggy. Maybe allowing your creativity to lead you might help you heal. It's known to happen when I've been feeling like crap. I won't be offended if you want to design a bright pink suit with weird stuff on it."

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"Most Anthean technology works directly with our mind or uses elemental configuration in molecules." Ziggy stood up and went over by the record player, motioning for Tony to join him. There's a glass dome on something that looks like a pyramid that Ziggy takes the glass off of. "This is our equivalent of a record player."

He held out a tray of what looked like large colored marbles. "The molecular configurations inside these holds the music."

He smiles and nods. Maybe Tony is right. "Come back in a few days and I'll start working on something for you."

[stark_ravingmad]

"So you guys are big on the whole mind control thing? Huh. I guess that could come in useful if you don't want to get up from the couch. Just look towards it and go fuck it, turn on. Awesome."

Tony was trying to get to grips with the whole alien thing but in a light and playful way to try and cheer Ziggy up. It was fascinating though. Totally. The engineer bending closer to see what Ziggy was telling him. It was impressive.

"Jesus. This is hot shit right here, pal. There's nothing like this even remotely on Earth right now."

He shot his host a smile and then heard the doorbell go. Pizzas had arrived it seemed. As for coming back in a few days? Hell yeah. Tony was excited to see what Ziggy might come up with.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"No. Mind control's considered offensive." Ziggy starts laughing. "I'm telepathic, not telekinetic. I can't throw shit around like a sith."

Ziggy thought what he was describing sounds a lot like a Sith, perhaps because some of it would be considered evil by an Anthean.

"I can hear what's on them when I touch them." He tells Tony but then's distracted by the food arriving. He let Tony go for the food and then went to the kitchen to get plates, napkins and silverware. Antheans did not use anything disposable. It was the outcome of coming from a world with very little resources. On Earth wasting resources really bothered them too.

[stark_ravingmad]

"Sure. Sorry, I need to get my telepathy and telekinesis correct. I guess I'd make a pretty lousy Anthean."

Smirking slightly he wondered what else Ziggy could do with such a mind. The possibilities were endless, yet Tony was more interested in the creative nature of the alien's mind. He could paint, create and design. Those were useful qualities inded.

Walking towards the door, Tony opened it and paid for the pizzas and fries. It wasn't much and so what if it was? This was their night and Ziggy deserved whatever he wanted right now for feeling like shit. Bringing the pizzas into the kitchen, Tony slid them onto the plates and noticed the silverware and napkins. The guy liked his comforts.

"These are going to taste great. Oh--the fries, here."

He tipped a huge pile onto two plates as he helped carry them into the living room, placing them onto the table close by the chairs.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"Telekinesis is the ability to move objects with the mind." Ziggy clarifies. "Telepathy is the ability to read and send thoughts. I'm also empathetic. I can sense the emotions of others and share mine." He left out the fact that he couldn't always control it.

Ziggy grabs the vinegar out of the cabinet while stealing a fry off the plate as it passes. Ziggy also brewed a small pot of coffee to bring along for them to drink. Ziggy sets the things on the table and stares at the food. His stomach is rumbling as he takes the plate. He's going to eat, and eat a lot. There was a reason why he asked for two.

[stark_ravingmad]

"Yeah, I should know this since we have this girl back home called Wanda who is good with her mental abilities. She uses telekinesis mostly and has some mind control abilities too."

Tony kenw only too well of what Wanda Maximoff, or Scarlet Witch as she was known, could do and it was downright terrifying to know she could move buildings with that mind of hers. HYDRA wanted to use her and her brother for their own gains. It was a good thing the Avengers had her on their team now. Tony hoped that Ziggy was able to control his thoughts and emotions when he wanted to. Taking a mug and filling it via the pot of freshly brewed coffee, Tony takes a deep gulp and then placed his own pizza onto his plate. Just watching Ziggy eat would be interesting. The poor guy must be starving.

"Eat. No need to wait for me. You must be starving."

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"For us it is an extension of our senses. We us it like others use their hearing." Ziggy shrugs. "Our typical senses are far beyond human senses as well."

For Ziggy , the lack of control from the blend of species more than something typically Anthean. He poured some more coffee too and then began to eat. It was dainty how he ate using a fork and knife and not touching the food overly much but he would continue to eat at least one of the pizzas, if not the second too while they spoke.

"My species can go months without experiencing hunger or thirst the way a human does after only a few hours."

[stark_ravingmad]

"That makes sense. Decent skill to have."

Even though Tony was still new to Antheans in general and getting to know Ziggy, he was finding the whole experience to be very enlightening and he felt privileged to learn more about the rock star. Not wanting to be rude by watching his host eat, Tony began tucking into his own pizza, but without knife and fork since he was an American and they often used hands for pizza. The lack of etiquette very visible compared to Ziggy's more refined way of eating.

"Excuse the rude American here. Just this is---good."

Tony ate more just enjoying the taste whilst popping a few fries into his mouth as he went. Was he hungry? Hell yeah. The whole thing about Anthean's and their ability to go months without food? Yeah. That was pretty awesome.

"You guys are pretty awesome, did you know that? Must be useful when there's no food or water around. As for me? I'd soon order a whole box of Dunkin' Donuts after around a day of not eating."

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"It can be. Other times it is a detriment." Ziggy knew that was true, especially for his empathy.

"Eating with your hands?" He knew that was probably the reference from his father. "It's not a big deal. I've got to watch for microbes. It's worse here in the Nexus. Everyone has potential pathogens. I've got medication to take after interacting with people to help my immune system."

Ziggy paused in his binge eating. "Our planet has been dying for the past 12 thousand years. Genetics has changed us to be able to survive the scarcity."

[stark_ravingmad]

It made sense for someone like Ziggy to be extra careful when being an alien on another planet, scared for infecting himself unnecessarily. Tony thought it wise of him to err on the side of caution. The poor guy must be living on a knife edge regarding that side of things.

"Microbes? Ah I get you. That must suck having to watch for them all the time. I do agree with your methods though to keep safe."

Tony placed a piece of pizza inside his mouth and chewed. His face becoming more serious as Ziggy spoke of his home planet dying for so long. Shit. The guy has been through it all. Antheans really were survivors and that was impressive in Tony's eyes.

"I'm sorry you have to go through all this shit, Ziggy. It must be hard and I'm here for you if the shit gets too much. You know?"

Swallowing, Tony drank some coffee and placed a comforting hand on Ziggy's leg, just trying to reassure the guy.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"Don't worry." He tells Tony. "I've taken enough medication to protect me for the night. I knew there'd be a lot of species around at the festival."

He was always thinking about his health and the concept of hiding his alienness, though that wasn't as important in the Nexus.

"The planetary collapse started when my mother was a child." Ziggy sighs. "I've only been to Anthea once. I grew up on a ship mostly."

His blue eyes drop down to look at Tony's hand and then up into the engineer's eyes, questioning. After a moment he breaks into a smile. "I suppose if you're going to start getting touchy with me we should talk about some things... unless you like surprises?"

[stark_ravingmad]

Tony nodded whilst eating the rest of his pizza. He was hungry and didn't feel the need to stop whilst Ziggy was practically inhaling his anyway. The guy was hungry and there was a reason why he was eating so fast. It made complete sense to Tony though.

"Uh--I usually get touchy feely with my buddies who are down. I mean, this isn't a problem, right?"

Oh crap. Had he somewhere blew it? Yet, Ziggy was smiling so that was a good sign. The last thing he'd want to do was offend the guy by touching his leg. Surprises though? Now that had Tony's eyebrow raised in mild fascination.

"What sort of surprises are we talking about here?"

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"My species thrives on touch." Ziggy tells him with a smile and actually pauses in eating. "Touch and telepathy are used more than speech because water was rare on Anthea."

He took a drink of coffee and turned his attention completely to the engineer. "I like contact and touch, invite it even from anyone I like."

Ziggy starts laughing and pats Tony's hand on his leg. "I'm half alien and He isn't exactly right though I use that to hide on Earth."

[stark_ravingmad]

"Is that right? Are we talking a kiss on the cheek here or grab of the ass kind of touch?"

Tony was just testing the waters here as he finished off the remains of his pizza, wiping his mouth with his napkin while putting the box in the cardboard recycling bin. He wanted to be a gracious guest in Ziggy's home. The hand on his leg got him staring at the rock star's hand though resting on it.

"Half alien? That's still cool. I've known aliens, gods, all kinds of creatures. Most have been awesome except a few."

Mostly those who's egos were too big for their helmets so to speak. As for right now? Tony wasn't sure where this would lead but was open if Ziggy wanted to pursue touch.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy takes a moment to really look at Tony but his mind is on the angel. "Are you serious with that angel of yours?"

He has to ask because Ziggy has been around all kinds of relationships and his mind is on that right now. Though he does smile. "I'm open to either."

Ziggy had managed to down nearly both of the pizzas and a good amount of fries. He could eat and eat a lot when he got his mind into it.

"None like me." He says, rather sure of himself. Though his brow raises in question long before he speaks. "What you need to know depends on what you're looking to get into here."

That was a serious point because Ziggy has given everyone here in the Nexus fair warning about his less human side, something he can't do at home and wouldn't be needed in all circumstances even here.

[stark_ravingmad]

A good and fair question regarding Tony's status with Lucifer. What was their actual relationship? All that he knew was that his heart missed a beat when the name Lucifer was mentioned or that everytime he saw the devil he swooned. Was he in love?

Oh, he was in love.

"To be honest? I'm in love. Plain and simple as that. He is everything to me and I love him. Yet, I think you're a cool guy and wouldn't mind getting to know you better. If that makes sense. I guess you've heard the term friends with benefits? I mean it doesn't have to be....if you're uncomfortable with that and everything."

Was he talking too much? Maybe. He just didn't want to wreck what he had with Lucifer but not offend Ziggy at the same time. It was more let's see where this goes and if it doesn't work out then Tony would accept that. Would Lucifer mind if he slept with Ziggy? Crap. Because he didn't want to piss off the devil. But then he seemed an open kind of guy having Balthazar as his sitting king and fiance. So, Tony wondered if it would indeed work somehow.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"I'm glad for both of you." Ziggy truly is. Having been in love there's a sense inside of him that everyone deserves it and to feel it even if the pain at the end is devastating. All the rest was worth it.

"I have." Ziggy smiles a bit more. "Is that what you're looking for?"

The question is open and free of judgement. He's just trying to nail things down so there aren't any misunderstandings. The blow up between him and Minoru had left him over compensating and questioning long before there could be a problem.

Ziggy picked up his coffee to sip and then laughs. "Just so you know what you're trying to get into... I'm a male human but also a female alien. I'm not exactly the same as a human."

[stark_ravingmad]

"Thanks, pal. It means a lot."

Tony's own hand sliding onto Ziggy's knee squeezing it softly. What did he want? Something that didn't interfere with what he had already got with Lucifer since that was precious to him. Yet, having a cheap fling with Ziggy felt rude considering the man's predicament and feelings. A close friend with benefits? That sounded a little more appropriate.

"Oh, I've been known to get into all kinds of weird stuff when I was younger. As for your alien biology? That's totally cool with me."

In fact, Tony was curious as to how it all worked. How he and Hiroki, well---had it off. Did he have a cock and female genitals inside somehow? The engineer's mind boggled for a moment.

"Yeah...I guess it is what I'm looking for but not at the expense of anyone's feelings, you know? Yours...Lucifer's. I just want you to be ok."

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy winces a little at the squeeze even if it is gentle. His joints were still sensitive in the gravity though nothing so bad as Newton's.

That gets a little laugh. "I'm reminding you of that if any of it gets weird to you later."

There had been some awkwardness but they had figured things out over time. Nothing that couldn't be dealt with through a long talk and patience in the bedroom.

"I've always had multiple partners." Ziggy was comfortable there, needed it in many ways to stay sane. He had way too much energy and time for any one person to deal with. It was something that Rondo jokingly told him but he now understood and believed it to be true. "Lucifer is open too? In your relationship with him?"

Ziggy had met the devil and suspected it was true but things change and that had been months ago. Also, he knew well from his own relationship that things weren't always uniform. He had been open, Hiroki had been monogamous, but it did take talking to work out those logistics and set boundaries. He had no idea about Tony.

[stark_ravingmad]

Tony didn't catch the wince but instead moved his hand to slide on Ziggy's shoulder instead, a few fingers coming out to brush against the end of the man's red hair. It was an impressive mullet and Tony was jealous that even he couldn't pull off such a rock hairstyle even during the 80's. Ziggy had style in droves. His serious questions were poignant though.

"If it gets weird later than I'll deal. It'll be fine, Hot-Pants. Don't worry, I'm a big boy."

He sighed, thinking about Lucifer and his relationship with Balthazar. They were destined to be married and the angel was his king so it was a strong bond indeed.

"Lucifer is joined with Balthazar, his angel and king. They're destined to be married since Balthazar is his fiancé. It's all fine with me as long as Lucifer is cool with dating a tech nerd like me. As for open? As far as I know it's just me and Balthazar warming his bed. We're like a threesome but not. If that makes any sense."

Tony knew that Lucifer was more a choose your partner carefully kind of guy and wasn't like the open to everyone as Ziggy was. At least that's the vibe he got from his devil lover.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

The touch is nice and he lets it happen. There's no reason to pull away and he craves it after isolation and heartache.

"I'm a big boy too." Ziggy tosses the comment back but the tone is lewd and flirtatious.

His attention focuses though as Tony talks about his relationships and he gets a small nod. "My partner and I were like that. He and I were going to get married but I had.. still have interest in several other people. Honesty is important running in relationships like that one."

Ziggy understood well enough what the relationship he described was like. It relaxed the Anthean as they spoke. He never wanted to hurt anyone with his behavior.

[stark_ravingmad]

"Oh yeah? Going to show me just how big you can be inside those tight pants of yours?"

If Ziggy was falling into the gutter intending to drag Tony in too then he was already halfway there. It didn't take much for Tony Stark to start with the innuendo and euphemisms. No doubt the Anthean wasn't lying about his manhood. Yet, the comment about his partner got a soft look from Tony. Poor guy.

"Honesty is everything, I agree."

He moved his fingers gently to caress Ziggy's collarbone, wondering what the guy liked and where to be touched. How sensitive were Antheans to touch? There we so much he didn't know about Ziggy and craved to know.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy throws him a coy, side-eyed glance before breaking into a smirk. "What fun is it inside my pants?"

Ziggy watched Tony for a moment before his eyes flickered away to look down at the hand on his chest. However, his mind is on the comment about honesty.

"I have two other partners. I'm not sure where either of those relationships will go now." Ziggy takes a deep breath and looks back over at the human. "They both know I see other people when I want."

He's sensitive enough to touch that he lets out a sigh at the touch. It wasn't just the physical sensations but also the fact he had gone from constantly drowning in touch to more or less isolation. He's craving it like he craves drugs right now and it's a difficult mistress to resist.

Setting his coffee aside he leans into Tony, against his shoulder. The Anthean relishing the contact.

[stark_ravingmad]

"Two? You lucky boy. I guess you're one up on me having one but that one being the devil himself. Sometimes herself. Not that I'm aiming to cut a notch in my bedpost every time."

Tony had done all that in his past life with how many women he'd slept with. Was it possible that Ziggy had slept with more people than even Tony Stark? It was a distinct possibility, yet one he wouldn't pry into since it was Ziggy's business. What mattered now was spending time with the guy and trying to cheer him up. The touching seemed to be working.

"You know you're right. About no fun in seeing it in your pants. Let's uh--remedy that, huh?"

Tony leant in closer, just sliding both palms up Ziggy's thighs, just pressing into the soft flesh, almost massaging his leg muscles gently. He was going to start slow and allow the man to come into his own on his own. Tony would touch but wait and see what Ziggy would do next.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy shrugs a little and sighs with something that sounds sad. "I hadn't planned on it. Back home I can't risk having anything but a quick fling and throwing people out the door. They torture people like me, imprisoned and tortured my uncle for years." Ziggy swallows deeply and lets out another breath. "I've never had the luxury of anything long term or people knowing me. It's not safe."

Ziggy never counted how many people got into his bed. With his craving of touch and his need to be secretive some nights it was multiple people, not at once nor in succession but they were many. The comment pulled him out of spiraling into that dark place.

"Are you going to start stripping me?" Ziggy asks with a laugh as he shifts to lean more against Tony's chest. The touch is warm and welcoming. Though, with an Anthean laying on him and the room being cooler, Tony might start feeling chilled. It was one of the reasons there were several throws around. Poor Hiroki always with a cold lover against him feeling chilled.

[stark_ravingmad]

Jesus. Tony's eyes softened as he listened to Ziggy's painful memories regarding his past partners. Torture, imprisonment. Ziggy's uncle getting it in the neck for years? Fuck. It was raw emotion right there and it brought a pang of anger to rise up within the engineer's being. That was wrong right there.

"Ziggy---I'm sorry. That sounds like a real shit show for you and your uncle."

Not uttering another word, Tony leant forward and pulled Ziggy into a warm hug. Tony noticed just how cool the Anthean was to the touch but ignored it. Hey, if he was about to sleep with an alien then he would have to get used to the strange perks of doing just that. Ziggy needed a hug and Tony Stark had just decided that the whole world could go to hell right now regarding Ziggy's shit show of one. The guy needed touch and the engineer was here to offer that.

"I'm here for you, pal. Totally."

Breaking off, he sighed and then slipped some fingers into Ziggy's pants waistband, just tugging lightly.

"Do you want me to? Because I totally want to see those hot legs naked."

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"We're aliens on a world that treats them like lab rats. My dad's put in a lot of work and risk making sure people don't find out." Ziggy relaxes into the hug and lets out another long breath. "They're not comfortable with my presentation either."

His light body sunk back against Tony who could probably feel the pounding of Ziggy's heart in his back at the bottom of his ribs. Relaxing more he felt the strange thing on Tony's chest and paused before sliding to the side to press his hand to his chest. He had seen the strange radiation before but never realized there was something there on the human's chest.

"What is that?" He asks curiously. His fingers working around the edge of the shape without much thought. "I saw your chest was strange but I didn't know there was... something?"

Whatever hurt Ziggy was feeling was forgotten as he leaned up just a little to look at Tony. This was something unexpected and pulled his full curiosity.

He's laughing though and leaning back again when he feels warm fingers slide between skin and fabric. "Are you going to take my boots off too?"

Unlike his usual clothing, he is wearing several layers. The big platform boots were certainly going to need removed first.

[stark_ravingmad]

Tony could sympathise with Ziggy's plight. The fact that he was an alien was something that could be seen as taboo in some societies. A time long past where aliens were thrust under the harsh lab table light and picked apart like an animal. That part sickened Tony who knew that at least the world he lived in accepted aliens for who and what they were. There was always going to be some which held onto archaic views regarding anything strange and different.

"Oh, you mean this? It's my Arc Reactor. It was fixed to my chest when I was involved in an explosion which nearly killed me. Shrapnel pieces digging into my heart. This acts like a magnet keeping the pieces away from my heart. They've all been removed now though. It's mainly for a keepsake more than anything."

Since his heart wasn't in any danger of being pierced. The Reactor though? He just hadn't bothered getting it removed. It was part of him.

"What can you see, Ziggy? When you see my Reactor? Lucifer can see the rings of the magnetic field and radiation waves. Just wondered what an Anthean can see."

As for taking Ziggy's boots off, Tony smirked and slid a hand down one of the boots, squeezing the man's leg softly.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"Can I see it." Ziggy had a childish excitement suddenly. New and the unexpected were things he loved. He had never seen someone who was cybernetic? or something close.

He turns his eyes down to the reactor and stares for a moment. "My species can see the entire electromagnetic spectrum, and a little beyond to things humans haven't put on the spectrum yet."

His fingers slide around the edge with a gentle, seductive touch. "I can hear it, the energy running through it and feel that you are attached to its presence. It means something to you and who you are."

There's a zen like quality to how he is talking, slipping into his own mind and senses in a way he rarely does. It is the hand on his leg that brings him out of it to smile at the engineer about to take off his boots.

[stark_ravingmad]

Tony's eyebrows raised in surprise at just how much the Anthean could see. Damn. He had no idea about the magnetude of Ziggy's abilities and no doubt was in awe of them right now. Just to be able to see the entire electromagnetic spectrum was a sight indeed. Sort of like when Lucifer offered to show Tony an insight in how he could see. It was breathtaking.

"That's--wow. Yeah. That's something. You guys must have super sight and hearing to be able to pick up on such minute things."

He just sighed and fixated his eyes on Ziggy, watching and wondering before continuing on with his touch. The man was special indeed and Tom was a lucky man to have him for his son. To be honest the whole thing about hearing energy running through his Reactor was rather sensual.

Tony's hands gently pulling off the rock star's rather impressive boots, sliding them down his long legs and onto the floor. The engineer's fingers gently kneading Ziggy's feet lightly before pulling off one sock, which was brightly coloured, like the rest of the man. It was then that Tony noticed the lack of all five toes. Antheans had four but it didn't bother him one bit as he began using his finger tips to lightly brush the top of Ziggy's naked foot before moving to delve underneath. Was he ticklish?

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"We do. It makes human environments overwhelming sometimes. Your things make so much noise that you don't care about because you can't hear it." Ziggy mentions though not all of it was unpleasant noise. Airports were a hellhole as far as sound. Ziggy had experienced way too many of those.

Ziggy just leans back and lets Tony deal with his boots. He's used to the heavy boots but taking them off and the light touch still feels good. He is ticklish but not on his feet. That just feels good now that the boots are off.

[stark_ravingmad]

Tony slipped off the other sock on Ziggy's other foot but instead of playing with that foot, decided to slide his hands up the Anthean's legs. Those pants had to come off. Smirking slyly, he gently slipped his fingers into Ziggy's waistband, gently tugging down whilst pressing closer, until his lips were very close to his host's.

"I guess I should ask the obvious here. What do you like in bed? Positions, kinks. That sort of thing. Best ask ahead of time if things do get that far, you know? Unless, you like surprises, which if you do, then I'll roll with it."

He was trying to be practical here and knew Ziggy was the kind of guy to say what he thought. Sliding the pants down past his ass and thighs, Tony pulled them further down until they were at his ankles. Moving lower he pressed a few kisses down the Anthean's thighs, just tickling his bearded lips against the pale skin.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

That touch to his legs, he wished they would continue. Anthean joint and leg pain was a problem because of the gravity. He would never turn down a leg massage. Ziggy helps with the pants removal, lifting or moving as needed. He has little, white silk boy shorts on under them. Ziggy wasn't about to kiss just yet.

"The most important is that my bones and joints are weaker than a human's. I'm open to most other things, being the male or female or both. I prefer to be the submissive partner usually." Ziggy sighs as he watches the man slipping his pants down around his ankles. "My empathy is loud when I get too aroused so things will get more intense than you're used to."

Ziggy pulled a ragged breath at the touch of lips to his thighs. He was so touch starved lately, compared to the past few months of indulging in all the contact he could take. He craved this; platonic, romantic, sexual really didn't matter. It was the contact he wanted. In the desire for more contact he sat up and pulled off his jacket, but leaving the tight sweater for the moment, before smiling down at Tony.

"You're overdressed now." He grins and really wants to see the object in his chest without the fabric in the way.

[stark_ravingmad]

Oh, Tony would be more than happy to oblige with caressing and massaging Ziggy's legs if he knew that Antheans suffered with the gravity issues within the Nexus. The pressure on their joints and other such issues. For now though, Tony was glancing towards Ziggy's choice in underwear which was quite alluring and kinky.

"I love those silken undies of yours. They...hold yourself in nicely."

Tony's mind instantly delving into the gutter regarding how big Ziggy was going to be. Were Antheans well hung? He would soon find out as soon as he eventually removed the rock star's underwear, yet there was plenty of time for that. Right now, just light touches where what Tony wanted to achieve to gauge what Ziggy liked.

"You're right. How about we remedy that, huh?"

As for his empathy being loud during sex, well, it would be an experience for sure. Tony had never slept with an empath, or indeed, an alien before. This was excluding Lucifer, who was the devil. He could be classed as an alien though so there was that. Tony pulled off his shirt and revealed the feint blue glow of his Arc Reactor which sat in the centre of his chest. His muscular and scarred torso bared now so that Ziggy got a nice view of it.

"Liking what you see? I guess the Arc Reactor will be much brighter now without a shirt covering it."

He gently went back to sliding his hands up Ziggy's legs because damn--he loved those legs. His rough palms sliding along the pale thighs, gently caressing and soothing.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"I wear them for comfort. They help under the tight pants." Ziggy jokes while remembering just how many comments Tony had made about his tight pants.

He didn't wait long after the shirt was removed to run his fingers over and around the reactor. It was bright and caused him to blink a number of times. If Tony watches his eyes he will see Ziggy's clear eyelid, that slid between his eye and normal eyelid, slide over his eye to block out some of the radiation coming off the reactor.

"It's beautiful." Ziggy smiles a little before looking up at Tony. The touch to his legs gets a moan but it is one of relief more than sexual right now. It just feels good. Especially since Tony's human body temperature is so much warmer than his Anthean body.

[stark_ravingmad]

"Oh yeah? I feel you there, pal. I try to wear something comfortable underneath my suit when I'm in it for a long time."

Tony knows, especially when he's out being Iron-Man and doing heroic things for hours on end, being within the suit. He could open up the helmet to breathe now and then but the main suit stayed on. It was easier that way. Ziggy's little silken panties though? They were sexy in their own way.

"You think so? Not many people would call it beautiful since most are more afraid of it. Heart stuff."

He remembered the time he asked Pepper to change the Reactor that time and she nearly gave him a heart attack. Yeah. Good times. If he trusted someone enough then he would allow them to stick their fingers into his chest. That moan got Tony's eyes flickering up to Ziggy's obvious pleased expression. So, he liked his legs to be touched. This was good.

Tony continued to caress the pale, silky thighs gently with his fingers and thumbs, just pushing lightly, going from knee to leg join, enjoying the soft sounds coming from the Anthean.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"On stage it gets brutally hot." For an Anthean the stage lights could be a nightmare for the heat.

"Why are they afraid of it?" Ziggy doesn't quite understand. To him, if Tony needed it to be part of him to survive then it was as much a part of him as his limbs or anything else. He knew it might not be the first nor last time his alien perspective didn't match with a human one.

Ziggy stretched on the couch like a lazy cat as Tony started actively giving him a massage. "You should rub my calves."

If the man was going to give him a massage he was going to direct it. The heavy, high boots did a number on his calves even after wearing them for years. There were a few winces in there as hands got close to his knees. Familiar with injuries as Tony was he might note the slight redness around the knees signaling inflamation and joint pain. It was a common problem for Antheans, even half breeds, in Earth gravity until they got used to it. Newton proved that took years as his still hurt sometimes too.

[stark_ravingmad]

"I can only imagine what you have to put up with regarding lights. Must be unbearable at times, right?"

Tony had never sung on stage. Jesus, would he even want to subject people to his voice? No. But the whole lighting issue for Ziggy? It must be torture trying to perform under such hot lights. As for the question regarding his Reactor, he just shrugged lightly.

"I guess the whole "oh, it's to do with your heart, it must be weird" comes into the equation. People just don't like different as you probably already know."

He offered Ziggy a comforting smile as he then began to work on the backs of his calves. Hey, if he wanted to direct Tony then he wasn't opposed to it if it helped him. Strong workers hands soothed the back of the singer's legs, whilst keeping an eye on him.

"How does this feel? You can tell me what else you'd like to. I used to rub my girlfriend's calves like this after a rough day in the office. Pepper was her name."

How was she doing now? Tony just concentrated on Ziggy's leg muscles, as he worked slowly, gently making circles against his soft skin. The man's skin was definitely cooler too. Were Antheans cooler to the touch? It seemed so.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"My species is adapted to cold temperatures. It's like an oven sometimes." Which explained why Ziggy sometimes ended up on stage in nearly nothing. People always assumed it was something sexual but usually it was just comfort and not wanting to pass out from heat stroke.

"It's part of your body now." Ziggy comments with a shrug. The idea of prosthetics didn't bother him much. In part because he wore some himself to appear human, though here in the Nexus he didn't put any of them on.

"Good." Ziggy was relaxing but the mention of a girlfriend got his interest, not that he cared if he had a girlfriend too. As long as everything was understood and not problematic. "Are you still with her?"

The 'was' said maybe he wasn't. It never hurt to ask though specifically. Tony was starting to get relaxed groans from the singer. It really did feel amazing.

[stark_ravingmad]

"Yeah, it is. Before, if I hadn't had it put into me I would have died. It's still important to me now, even if I do have to change it now and then."

That was the tricky part, just needing that extra pair of hands to delve in and change it. The question is, who would do that part now? Pepper wasn't in the Nexus and that only left a few capable people. Lucifer? He'd trust that guy with his life since he loved him. No doubt Ziggy would be able to also, yet he had just met the guy. It took a lot of built up trust.

"Pepper? No. We're close friends but nothing in the way or romance. We've moved on with our lives now and that's it. Some things just don't work out."

Tony was never any good with relationships, or rather, sticking to them. He was always too obsessed with his work, delving into the workshop at any chance he got. His girl got left out in the cold often and he knew he should have been there for her more. His hands gently moving up to caress underneath the knee, very lightly as he didn't want to cause any unnecessary pain. His fingers then moving up to caress a little higher, just underneath Ziggy's thigh muscles.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Sensing that it was electrical made changing parts out make sense. Ziggy accepted that without question. Why he would need it now was curious but then you could easily get used to something and not want to change.

"It says a lot that you could be friends after." Ziggy comments. Most people couldn't stand seeing exes or their exes wanted nothing to do with them. It seemed like a sign that Tony was a caring person that he could navigate a break up to this extent.

At some point Ziggy's eyes had drifted shut while he enjoyed the relief the warm hands brought to his muscles. It had been too long since he had a massage. The way the hands kept drifting higher didn't go unnoticed and left Ziggy wondering how far up he was going to go.

[stark_ravingmad]

"We reached an accord that suited us both. To be honest it was a pretty rough ride for both of us but I'm here now. The Nexus is a great place. Time for the sweater to come off though, Hot-Pants."

He offered Ziggy a fond smile and gently eased his fingers from the singer's thighs and began tugging at the sweater from the bottom. It had to come off and he assumed that Ziggy would pull it over his head himself. While he did that, Tony busied himself with pressing soft kisses to his host's legs, moving up his thighs as he did so.

"You're nice and soft."

It was a simple and plain gesture but one that was full of honesty. Ziggy's legs were very feminine in shape and touch and he realised he was kissing an alien's legs. It was an odd thought but one he relished. Moving lower, his tongue gently lapping at a point where the man's knee joined his thigh.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"My only ex, on Earth, wasn't as kind." It was all he was going to say on that situation. Though he added on Earth because he didn't want it misconstrued as Hiroki. He had been wonderful. Ziggy paused and stared at Tony for a minute while pain welled up and threatened to consume him again.

It was the soft kiss to his thigh that refocused him on the present. Ziggy sat up to pull off the sweater. His chest was hairless, most of his body was naturally aside from the hair on his head, eyelashes, and the hair still covered by the tiny shorts. Even his eyebrows were faint.

Ziggy also bore scars; two bullet wounds to the shoulder and center left of the chest, a knife wound where he had been stabbed in the abdomen and, when they got to his back another stab wound to the area over human kidneys. The last one had been dangerously close to his heart.

"I'm naturally hairless. It helps." Ziggy is teasing and joking about his odd anatomy as he lays the sweater over the back of the couch. The massage is heating up a little as he feels lips and hands replaced by tongue. Ziggy brings his long fingers down to brush through Tony's hair. Long hair was something he enjoyed but this was long enough too, enough to bury his fingers in.

[stark_ravingmad]

"I'm sorry to hear that."

Tony's large, brown eyes coming up to meet Ziggy's blue ones, offering a sympathetic smile whilst pressing another kiss to the rock star's thigh. Jesus, the poor guy had been through a total shit storm concerning relationships it seemed. Tony's seemed mild compared to what he was facing. Sitting back up, he watched Ziggy pull off his sweater and then frowned.

Oh god. Those scars. Had he been attacked? Those on his shoulder looked like bullet wounds and there was a stab wound on his abdomen and chest. Jesus Christ. Attacked for being an alien? Or just looking different to everyone else? Whatever the reason Tony's soft expression hardened into one of anger.

"Shit, Ziggy. Those scars. Some bastards attack you?"

He ran a soft fingertip over the scar on his chest, feeling the skin bump under his touch. The poor guy. Tony sighed softly and went to press a soft kiss to the scar on Ziggy's abdomen, just a gentle press of the lips against cool skin.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

He reflexively starts rubbing the scars on his left hand. It's a trauma response but they soon touch the bullet scars too. "My first band wanted to end my career. When smashing my hand didn't work, we're pretty sure one of them paid to have me shot."

It was the past even though it still hurt. "That one...."

The words are cut off by a bit of a gasp. The memories had distracted him from watching what Tony was doing so the lips caught him off guard. It takes a second to recover from the lips on his abdomen, especially that low. "The knife wounds.. when I first came to Earth some people got angry about not being able to tell if I was a man or a woman. I was kidnapped once and beat a few times before I could get security of my own."

He strokes Tony's hair more and smiles at him even if it is a sad smile. There was a lot of dark in his past, more than most should have to endure but he kept moving and doing what made the world better.

"Don't worry about it. Most of the people involved are in jail." Ziggy wanted to get away from the subject and sighed heavily. Forcing a smile he kept his mind focused on the present.

"What do you like? Intimately?" It seemed fair given the previous question he posed.

[stark_ravingmad]

"Fucking assholes. Sorry, but that--that right there? That's bullshit. Just shows you're better off without dicks like that."

Tony was visibly angry at the total bullshit that Ziggy had to endure with his past bandmates. They smashed his hand? What kind of sick fucks were they? Obviously jealous that he was better than them. Tony would have punched them all in the face before walking out. He wanted to move Ziggy away from all the shit so instead concentrated on making him feel good. Tony noticing Ziggy's lips eliciting a gasp when he kissed the scar on his abdomen. Was it sensitive there for him? Huh.

"Good question. Well...I do enjoy a bit of biting, nails, orgasm denial, sensuality, different positions. Quite a bit actually. Of course, feel free to uh--experiment if you want."

Tony was just going to go with the flow as far as pleasuring his alien friend would go. He was still interested in helping Ziggy feel good and hearing soft gasps was a start. He moved his lips from the rock star's abdomen to gently press kisses along his arms. The were nice and smooth too.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"Some of it was my ex who started it. He thought I was crass and a deviant after awhile." Ziggy shrugs again. What could he do about it now.

He's glad to escape those thoughts and smirks at Tony. Opening his mouth to grin and run his tongue over his fangs. "I've been accused of biting too much."

Flirting and the present was a much better way to spend his time. Then he starts laughing, feminine and giggly like a blushing girl. "You're going to have to experiment. Not all of me that would need sensual pleasure is human."

The playfulness and bright personality is coming back. The darkness fading for now while his mind is occupied on something other than the pain of loss.

[stark_ravingmad]

"Well, then he's a total loser. It had to be said."

So what if Ziggy was a deviant or whatever? It didn't bother Tony but he wanted to view the guy for himself and right now hearing that feminine giggle was all he wanted to hear. That felt natural for someone like Ziggy and it meant he was slowly warming up to Tony and getting back to his normal self. It would take time, but he knew this.

"Experimentation is what comes natural to me. Trust me. These hands? Have been wrapped around more wrenches and have delved into more holes than you'd think."

Was Tony being lewd and flirtatious? Yep. He smirked and threw his shoes off, kicking them onto the floor softly. Removing his socks quickly he then began unbuckling his own belt because he knew he was the overdressed one now. Whilst fiddling with his belt buckle, Tony's eyes fixed on Ziggy's teeth.

Were those...fangs? Anthean fangs? Tony found himself wondering where they could end up on his body.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"Never any holes like mine, sweetie." Ziggy's chipper tone and grin paired with a gently touch to Tony's cheek as he spoke.

Ziggy leaned in to help Tony yank off his pants as soon as they were unbuckled. "No, I'm not a vampire either. Just an alien."

He gave Tony a bite to his sternum, barely any teeth but just enough to know they are sharp as tacks. Tony was slowly pulling Ziggy out of the dark place he sunk into every time he was left alone recently.

[stark_ravingmad]

"Oh, I don't doubt it. Now, I'm wondering what sort of a hole you have."

He was going to say "holes" but then that might sound a bit odd. But was it? Did Ziggy have more than two orifices on his body? The engineer did wonder. Those fangs biting at his sternum caused the human to gasp slightly. They were sharp and he wasn't lying.

"Wow. Those are some teeth you've got there, Hot-Pants."

Tony did guess that Ziggy wasn't a vampire which was good. Yeah. He didn't fancy having his blood drained out of him on his first date. That wouldn't have been good. Pushing his pants onto the floor with his host's help, Tony moved back in the chair, sliding both hands along Ziggy's smooth chest. His palms flat against the Anthean's body, gently massaging against his cool skin. Such cool skin was unusual but not a turn-off at all.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"I may look male but, trust me, I'm a fully functional lady too once you figure me out." He's totally taunting and inviting the engineer to start trying to work out his body. Half the fun in the Nexus was allowing people to know he was alien and get involved in all that meant.

"Where do you like to be bitten so I make sure to prick you there with them." Ziggy leans up against Tony, flush to skin as his hand slides over his shoulders. Ziggy did have a thing for muscular men, something he was just realizing now that he had the freedom to choose and the want for more than a fling. A fling could happen with anyone, but repeating took more interest and more attraction.

[stark_ravingmad]

Tony did wonder considering Ziggy was an alien and Antheans were vastly different to humans in so many ways. Their sexual organs being different in that Ziggy had both male and female in that regard. Tony found that idea to be interesting as well as arousing at the same time. The best of both worlds.

"I guess you could say I've got a weak spot in my inner thighs, neck, shoulders and my ears. They'll make me sing for you, sexy."

He flashed a coy smirk and poked the tip of his tongue out from the corner of his lips. Was Tony being playful also? Oh yes. Being with Ziggy seemed to bring this part out of him. His fingers now gently dancing over the rock star's nipples, pinching them gently.

"Does this make you feel good? I know it does for me."

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy already had his hands on Tony's shoulders and pressed his manicured nails in a little as his hand slid over the skin.

He slid his way up into Tony's lap, straddling him. "There are better places. Some of me reacts like a human, others don't."

Ziggy leans down and flicks the tip of his tongue on Tony's nipple and then bites, just enough to get the points of his teeth on the flesh. "Does that make you feel good?"

He teases back while his hands slide down Tony's side to let him sit up in his lap.

[stark_ravingmad]

Oh, those nails of Ziggy's felt amazing pressing into his skin slightly as he moaned softly. Then, he had the rock star in his lap dressed in nothing but his little shorts. What a turn-on indeed. Shifting slightly underneath Ziggy, Tony had his own black boxer shorts on which were stretched over his crotch and muscular thighs.

"Looks like we'll have all night to explore each other. This idea I like."

He offered his lover a fond smile and then felt those amazingly sharp teeth on his nipple. Oh god---that felt so good and caused Tony to whimper in pleasure. A jolt of pleasure shooting straight to his groin area. Gently picking up Ziggy's right hand, the engineer began kissing his wrist softly before sliding a wet tongue along his palm. Kissing hands could be erotic too.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"My species doesn't sleep." Ziggy purrs at him. "As long as you can stay awake."

He's a tease and knows it as he shifts around in Tony's lap. The kiss to the wrist has his eyes wide but that lick to his palm. Ziggy gasps and all but collapses against Tony's chest. The groans after are low and lewd more like one would expect if their mouth were between someone's thighs. Ziggy can't help the response. It feels too good to resist.

[stark_ravingmad]

Doesn't sleep? Huh? Well, Tony needed his beauty sleep but it was few and far between working on his suits and inventions. The man's body craved sleep most nights but his mind wouldn't shut down to afford his body that much needed luxury. Ziggy's reaction got the engineer raising both eyebrows in surprise.

"You like that, huh?"

He liked it a lot it seemed. Tony held Ziggy's cooler body close as he nipped and sucked on the other man's fingers for a moment, allowing the Anthean to get his breath. Were the palms erogenous zones for these aliens? There was so much Tony ached to know about Ziggy that it sent a thrill of excitement through him.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

It does take several heavy breaths for Ziggy to recover but there is the beginning of dampness in the palms. The fingers aren't as sensitive.

"It's forward to go for it with so little foreplay." Ziggy tells Tony with a big smile. "Like walking up to someone and grabbing their crotch."

[stark_ravingmad]

Oh crap. Was it really like grabbing someone's crotch? Tony had no idea that Anthean's palms were like an external sweet spot of sorts. Ziggy had near collapsed onto him so Tony was now holding his light frame up to support him.

"I didn't know. Sorry for uh--you know? Going for the jugular there."

Instead, he began peppering kisses along Ziggy's pale arm just gently, making sure that he wasn't about to kiss another body part that would send him into an early orgasm or something.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"Only once we're aroused." Ziggy corrects because he doesn't want the man to think handshakes are sexual advances or something.

Ziggy reached up to run his long fingers into Tony's hair. "I don't mind. It feels good. I'm not sure to the facial hair on them. It got to me more than I expected.

[stark_ravingmad]

Only once he was aroused. Tony tried to memorise this fact as he began nipping at Ziggy's shoulder, just shy of the collarbone, wondering what other alien sweet spots the man had. He was a curious enigma and this only drove the engineer onwards to kiss and touch Ziggy everywhere.

"So, erogenous palms, huh? This is definitely a new one but I like it. I've got to...hand it to you, Ziggy."

Why yes, that was a pun, even during a make-out session, Tony was on form with the Anthean. He often did it when he was with Lucifer, so it made sense.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy had heard a lot of these kinds of puns in his life so he just goes back to flirting.

"I get hot, they get wet." Ziggy shrugged and leaned in to press up against Tony's chest. "It is good for some very specific human activities. Maybe if you I'll show you."

Ziggy kissed Tony's chin, just shy of his lips.

[stark_ravingmad]

"So, if you get turned on, they start weeping like Niagara Falls, huh? They feel nice to touch. Not too sticky. Just sort of...slick."

He didn't know how to talk about alien goo coming out of Ziggy's palms so went back to kissing the guy. Tony's rough lips grazing the underside of the Anthean's jaw, peppering light kisses, seeing what the singer liked. The whole sex thing was nice but Tony knew there was much more to Ziggy than met the eye.

"Oh yeah? I can't say I'm not interested, pal. This---it's new to me. I've never fucked an alien before, have to admit."

Not even Gamora or any of the Guardians. Yeah, Tony had only fucked human men and women. This would be a first. His fingers coming up to gently slid along Ziggy's jaw, just touching.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"More than my hands." Ziggy teases playfully. Even the kisses get girlish giggles from the rockstar. They were friends but, for the Anthean, friend and lover were often the same or at least overlapped far more than they did for most humans.

"I'm not much different than a human." Ziggy answers honestly. "Some of the parts aren't in the same place but I have them." Ziggy kissed Tony's forehead and lips, barely a touch. This isn't exactly a fling for Ziggy, per say. He meant it when they agreed on friends with benefits, his focus on friendship. This wasn't a careless fuck.

"Do you prefer girls or boys?" He asks with a cheerful flirt.

[stark_ravingmad]

"To be honest I like a bit of both but I'm more familiar with girls. I'm not opposed to taking the back door so to speak either. Whatever you're comfortable with, pal."

He wasn't in it just for a one night stand and then leave. Ziggy was his friend and he only wanted to do this if the Anthean wanted to. Tony's hands sliding along the cool skin of his lover's arms, feeling just how smooth Ziggy actually was. No body hair at all. Were all Antheans like this? Tony himself had smatterings of chest hair and most definitely arm and leg hair.

"What do you prefer?"

It was an honest question since Tony always wondered what Ziggy would prefer. It it were masculine men over feminine women. Kissing Ziggy's neck, Tony softly lapped up just beneath his lover's chin.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"I'll be a surprising girl. I have one but it's not between my legs." Ziggy laughs and kisses Tony. "I'm comfortable with most of it though I don't usually do anal on men. I'm a little on the overindulgent side."

It's a teasing admittance of a preference. "I prefer to be the bottom."

He laughs quietly at the kiss up under the chin because he isn't used to facial hair. "What do you like Mr. Stark?"

He asks while wiggling suggestively in Tony's lap. Ziggy doesn't see this as a one night stand. This is playing around with a friend, getting close to them in a meaningful way, and enjoying some pleasure and happiness. His feelings on relationship far different from humans in many ways.

[stark_ravingmad]

"What? Oh, it isn't? Well, now, that is something new. I didn't expect it not to be there sort of thing."

Tony just cocked an amused eyebrow but figured this was more to do with Ziggy's alien side. Not having a pussy in between his legs though---that was causing the engineer to wonder just where it was on his body. His back? His chest? Even an opening on his hand or something. His mind boggled.

"I like loads of stuff, sweetheart. Mostly I like to fuck from behind or in front, on top or sometimes with my partner in my lap. I'm easy. Whatever you're comfortable with, Ziggy."

Because Tony Stark was a greedy bastard at times. He often wanted it all at all the same time.

"As for entry? I usually go in between the legs for girls but I wouldn't be opposed to doing anal on you either, if that gets you going."

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"My cock's taking up all the space down there." Ziggy says with a mischievous little laugh.

Leaning in he rand his hands over Tony's chest, careful to avoid the arc reactor. The slowness of this all is welcome because it has given Ziggy time to pull out of his depression and get back to something more like normal.

"I'm open to a lot. Vaginal, anal, oral. Give or take on oral." He's honest and then giggles while pressing a kiss between Tony's brows and rocking suggestively in his lap. "I've got anything you could want but if you're looking the girl parts you'll have to get me hot for that."

[stark_ravingmad]

"Your cock? Of course it is. I'm just---getting used to the Anthean biology here. You're a guy and a girl and a hot one at that."

Tony smirked and loved that mischievous little laugh. Ziggy was handsome and beautiful and the engineer just loved being around such a fun-loving guy. Glancing down at Ziggy's fingers touching his chest, he offered a small sigh. The Reactor. Many people got put off by it and the only other one who didn't mind was Pepper.

"At least you don't mind that I've got a huge magnet stuck in my chest. A lot of others think it's weird or gross."

He raised a brow at the girl parts. Get hot? Would Tony have to arouse Ziggy more to get those working? A bit like sleeping with a human girl then. Kissing Ziggy's jaw, Tony smiled.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"If you want me as a girl then pay attention to my bikini line." Ziggy offered still playful as ever. The compliments were welcome as he was missing hearing them since his main partner was gone. It got the engineer another silly kiss to the bridge of his nose.

"I'm half alien. Human standards don't apply." Ziggy took both of Tony's hands and pressed them to his lower back so he could feel the hard, pounding of the Anthean's heart. Though it was in a completely different place on his body, the heart reacted the same way to being turned on. "I don't even have the same parts in my chest as a human."

Then they were kissing and he tilted his head back to give the human more access. The slow build was fantastically erotic and he slid his hands back down Tony's chest, letting the nails drag against the skin.

[stark_ravingmad]

"Is that right? Well, I may just want to take you by the back entrance because it's been a while since I've done that too."

Tony did enjoy anal but it had been years since he actually slept with a man. Still, Ziggy had both male and female sex organs it seemed so he was spoilt for choice. Bending the Anthean over and taking him sounded so hot as did having him ride the engineer's cock. The slow burn was often Tony's style when he didn't want to rush a night like this one.

"Your heart is where your kidneys would be?"

His eyes widened a little at that as he felt the slow beat of the Anthean's heart around the back of his body. That felt a little weird but he wasn't put off at all. It was just different is all. Those nails though? They felt so good against his skin.

"What would you say if I wanted you to ride me in my lap? Or would you rather me bend you over and fuck you up the ass? I'm easy."

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"You have more than a cock, sweetie." Ziggy leaned in and pressed a kiss to the bridge of Tony's nose. "I bet you have talent fingers from all the precise engineering work."

The Anthean was up for anything. While he didn't often let anyone get in on his female parts he wouldn't mind being taken in other ways.

Ziggy giggles and wraps his arms around Tony's neck. "I'd tell you that you'd get spoiled by how good I feel in your lap."

[stark_ravingmad]

"I'm slowly finding out more about you, Ziggy. You're the best of both worlds with male and female parts it seems. Cute. I mean---it's sort of overindulgent of me to want both, right?"

As for his fingers? Oh yes. Tony's rough, calloused fingers were mostly used in his work, building and mending suits as well as sifting through miles of wire and cable when working. The man lived for tinkering and getting his hands dirty so to speak. But now? He wanted to be gentle with his alien friend.

"You like sitting in my lap, huh? How does it feel?"

He kissed Ziggy's neck and sighed, just enjoying being close to the Anthean. It was something endearing about just holding each other, not necessarily being sexual, but enjoying one another's company.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"You date the Devil." Ziggy teases with a laugh. "I expect some desire to overindulge."

His eyes are all lit up with mischief and flirtatious teasing. Ziggy giggled at the question.

"With all the random kissing it feels like I'm about to start a lap dance." Though, after the kiss to the neck, Ziggy just leaned in and put his head on Tony's shoulder, gently kissing his neck.

[stark_ravingmad]

"This is true. I am sort of...dating the Devil? We've got this thing going on and I'm not sure what it is since he's got his fancy angel pants guy who's his fiance so---I'm the guy who's the lover and human part of the love triangle."

This is how Tony saw it anyway since it was complex. Balthazar was a good guy though and he was glad the angel didn't blow up at him sleeping with his Devil fiance. Hot-Rings was cool as they came.

"Oh? Do you want to do a lap dance, Hot-Legs? Because I'm open to anything here. We've got the vinyl and you've got the looks and legs."

Always the dork, Tony kissed Ziggy's lips softly and then gently stroked his red hair. If they just wanted to sit here kissing and touching for a bit then Tony would be more than happy to do so.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"The more the merrier?" Ziggy laughed from where his head was on Tony's shoulder. "As long as it works for all of you it doesn't matter how many lovers there are."

The laughter started again. "Oh, do you want a lapdance like a rich boy?" The Anthean was teasing the human. "I'm not sure you have enough hundred dollar bills to pay for a rockstar."

He wiggled around on Tony's lap, pushing up against him before settling down. "I've got the short skirt and hips for one."