[ To Rafa, it doesn't seem dark at all. The castle's halls, well lit with multiple candelabra, have a tendency to make his eyes hurt. Here he's comfortable, and as a result, remarkably sure-footed. He doesn't pull away from William, though. More than happy to be held, he keeps a light hand on the prince's arm, and takes care not to move too far ahead. ]
I will be fine. Come, lead on. This reminds me of my youth.
[ Which he says as if he's not young at all, even though he looks it. Keeping his voice low, he glances up at William. ]
I used to sneak out of my father's keep at night. It had to be done in secret, but I loved those evenings, running alone across the wall and dropping down into the city. I made friends, lovers and enemies, and none of them knew who I was.
That was a happy time.
I will be fine. Come, lead on. This reminds me of my youth.
[ Which he says as if he's not young at all, even though he looks it. Keeping his voice low, he glances up at William. ]
I used to sneak out of my father's keep at night. It had to be done in secret, but I loved those evenings, running alone across the wall and dropping down into the city. I made friends, lovers and enemies, and none of them knew who I was.
That was a happy time.
[ It's dark enough that the flush of blood at the word lover is masked by the darkness of the narrow hallway. He takes the stairs carefully, his hand staying at rest on Rafa's elbow, curling into the fabric of his shirt as he finds a particularly crumbling step. ]
I find that surprising.
[ There is a smile to his voice. ] I would know you. [ There is a door resting snugly into the wall and William finds the handle, pushing it open to escape into the cool night air. The moon is bright in the sky and lights up ground and stone alike. ]
This way.
[ He pulls his cloak more firmly around him, taking a left towards the stone wall. ]
I find that surprising.
[ There is a smile to his voice. ] I would know you. [ There is a door resting snugly into the wall and William finds the handle, pushing it open to escape into the cool night air. The moon is bright in the sky and lights up ground and stone alike. ]
This way.
[ He pulls his cloak more firmly around him, taking a left towards the stone wall. ]
( continued. )
[ He's forgotten to put on shoes.
Apparently it doesn't bother him at all, standing on the Los Angeles sidewalk in his bare feet. At least he's wearing clothes though - a pair of jeans and the softest of t-shirts, his bare arms shifting as he shoves his hands deep into his pockets. People step around him as if they do not see him and still he waits, the breeze toying with the hem of his shirt and hair.
When he senses Tommy he looks up, his smile sweeter than it has any right to be. ] Hello.
[ He's forgotten to put on shoes.
Apparently it doesn't bother him at all, standing on the Los Angeles sidewalk in his bare feet. At least he's wearing clothes though - a pair of jeans and the softest of t-shirts, his bare arms shifting as he shoves his hands deep into his pockets. People step around him as if they do not see him and still he waits, the breeze toying with the hem of his shirt and hair.
When he senses Tommy he looks up, his smile sweeter than it has any right to be. ] Hello.
Edited 2016-04-06 17:56 (UTC)
[ Tommy somehow makes skidding to a stop several yards away from Mark graceful at his unseemly speed; unseemly in the sense that he really shouldn’t expose others to his abilities without “just cause” in such traffic. But that’s a judgment call Tommy hasn’t and will probably never straighten up enough to make.
He at least manages some semblance of normalcy by approaching the last stretch of distance as a typical human might: slouched, a bit lazy even, yet still vibrating with pent up energy that could be misdirected at any moment. Ever the hyperactive layabout.
There’s a backpack over one shoulder; he adjusts it and offers a crooked curl of his mouth in response to Mark’s smile, now almost toe to toe with him. ]
Hey. I, uh, brought supplies.
He at least manages some semblance of normalcy by approaching the last stretch of distance as a typical human might: slouched, a bit lazy even, yet still vibrating with pent up energy that could be misdirected at any moment. Ever the hyperactive layabout.
There’s a backpack over one shoulder; he adjusts it and offers a crooked curl of his mouth in response to Mark’s smile, now almost toe to toe with him. ]
Hey. I, uh, brought supplies.
legit forget how institutes work and also my book is upstairs lmao
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
blackthorns
2016-04-09 03:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Already Mark feels the inexplicable pull underneath his ribs when Tommy is nearby. His smile is wide and sweet and strangely innocent, far too open in his face. It would almost be like he's never known pain in his life, that's how easily the other boy is able to bring it about. ] Thank you.
[ He turns a little then, pointing to where they have to go. Tommy will not be able to see the Institute, not yet, but soon. Mark curls his fingers in the sleeve of the other boy's jacket and tugs a little to get him moving but still doesn't let go. ] I'm glad you decided to come. [ He's not had the opportunity to extend an offer to anyone in recent years, and while Julian had been cautious - or more than - Mark had been adamant. Tommy must have something of the Sight, he saw the truth in him after all.
Eventually they come to a derelict looking building and Mark pauses. ] You have to concentrate. [ He can see past the glamour. It's instinct. He just hopes Tommy will be able to. ] Look at the edges of this place and push through them.
[ He turns a little then, pointing to where they have to go. Tommy will not be able to see the Institute, not yet, but soon. Mark curls his fingers in the sleeve of the other boy's jacket and tugs a little to get him moving but still doesn't let go. ] I'm glad you decided to come. [ He's not had the opportunity to extend an offer to anyone in recent years, and while Julian had been cautious - or more than - Mark had been adamant. Tommy must have something of the Sight, he saw the truth in him after all.
Eventually they come to a derelict looking building and Mark pauses. ] You have to concentrate. [ He can see past the glamour. It's instinct. He just hopes Tommy will be able to. ] Look at the edges of this place and push through them.
[ Rafa pauses, as if the route has confused him, and then turns to follow William. The pause has very little to do with the route, as it happens. ]
Would you? Would you know a prince when you saw one?
[ He slides his hand along William's arm, finally catching his hand instead. Rafa's fingers close around it. ]
But I was not a prince, then. In the dark, I was never that. Are we climbing that wall?
Would you? Would you know a prince when you saw one?
[ He slides his hand along William's arm, finally catching his hand instead. Rafa's fingers close around it. ]
But I was not a prince, then. In the dark, I was never that. Are we climbing that wall?
[ He makes a soft, sweet sound in response. ] I do not know. My father would have me believe that a divine right to the throne is in the eyes, in the way a man stands, the way his voice carries. But I have seen many men who were you to take the richness from, you could not tell them from one to the next. [ Glancing over, the moonlight glinting in his hair. ] But I would recognise you. There is none who look as you do.
[ Rafa is beautiful in the way that some dangerous things are. William could not look upon him and not have his breath stolen. So he would know. ]
And no, lord. There's a gap.
[ He tugs his newfound friend along eventually coming to where the wall looks worn and ivy-covered. William grins as he ducks closer. From a distance the illusion is of one piece. But there is a definite hole if you know where to look, and one that a stooped young man could fit through. ]
[ Rafa is beautiful in the way that some dangerous things are. William could not look upon him and not have his breath stolen. So he would know. ]
And no, lord. There's a gap.
[ He tugs his newfound friend along eventually coming to where the wall looks worn and ivy-covered. William grins as he ducks closer. From a distance the illusion is of one piece. But there is a definite hole if you know where to look, and one that a stooped young man could fit through. ]
[ The way William speaks of royalty holds so much longing, and Rafa finds it bittersweet. For him, kingship was not something for which he was born, but for which he was raised. His looks had never had much to do with it.
He'd seen those eyes before, though, the eyes of a leader. Nikolai has them. William has them too, though they hold more fear in his case. ]
I have never believed in any god. Or in divine right, at all.
[ He touches William's hand. ]
But I believe a king holds strength in his eyes. You have it, William. You only need to see it.
[ The pronouncement about the wall is surprising. Rafa had been making towards it, fully intending to scramble up. It's with some chagrin that he realises this had never been the plan, and that his own assumption is a strange one. With a wry smile, he follows, and picks out the hole. ]
Ah, I see. Clever. Though, a security risk.
[ Smiling, he raises a brow at William. Without fear, he steps through, and holds out his hand. ]
Come, Will! Your city awaits.
He'd seen those eyes before, though, the eyes of a leader. Nikolai has them. William has them too, though they hold more fear in his case. ]
I have never believed in any god. Or in divine right, at all.
[ He touches William's hand. ]
But I believe a king holds strength in his eyes. You have it, William. You only need to see it.
[ The pronouncement about the wall is surprising. Rafa had been making towards it, fully intending to scramble up. It's with some chagrin that he realises this had never been the plan, and that his own assumption is a strange one. With a wry smile, he follows, and picks out the hole. ]
Ah, I see. Clever. Though, a security risk.
[ Smiling, he raises a brow at William. Without fear, he steps through, and holds out his hand. ]
Come, Will! Your city awaits.
[ excuse him while he takes a full thirty seconds to clear his mind after seeing the words "we" and "double team" and "gansey" in the same sentence. actually make that forty seconds. ]
it'll probably happen eventually, even if it's not with glendower.
it'll probably happen eventually, even if it's not with glendower.
[ His expression shifts, like the shape of the sun being freed from behind the confines of a cloud. He can only smile at his friend as they move, the sweetest of looks upon his face. ] You are far too kind a man, Rafa. But I will keep hold of that sentiment. I feel it will warm me when I need it.
[ And then he is shaking his head, a laugh caught in his chest as he lets Rafa pull him through. ]
Any man could cross the walls of the castle. It is the doors that remain barred. [ Outside the wall, the grass is thick and already coated in dew. William steps over the stones and rocks easily, leading Rafa not towards the gates themselves, but down towards the forest. It is something of a short cut, and one where they will be least discovered. ] I'm glad you decided to keep me company tonight. It would have been a bore without you.
[ And then he is shaking his head, a laugh caught in his chest as he lets Rafa pull him through. ]
Any man could cross the walls of the castle. It is the doors that remain barred. [ Outside the wall, the grass is thick and already coated in dew. William steps over the stones and rocks easily, leading Rafa not towards the gates themselves, but down towards the forest. It is something of a short cut, and one where they will be least discovered. ] I'm glad you decided to keep me company tonight. It would have been a bore without you.
[ Ah, so they're heading towards the forest. Something inside Rafa electrifies at that. Forests are full of promise, for him. He's killed so many faeries inside forests. And so many men. He's sparred with Delilah there, hunted with Nikolai.
And a forest was where he first met Shane.
Well. Met him again, in that form.
Regardless, it's the kind of place he associates with excitement. Pleased, he grips William's hand and all but dances towards it, so graceful are his movements. He's fast, and eager. ]
I could not have you bored. I like this. I like nights like this, full of promise.
[ They reach the trees, and the familiar scent of nature takes Rafa. He seems to grow inside it, both in comfort and in pleasure. It's obvious now, how little he likes being within a castle's stone walls. He looks at William, and thinks the same of him. ]
This air suits you. Where do we go from here? I want to see it all.
[ He moves close to William, hands moving up to slide against his lapels. He'll go everywhere with this boy tonight. He wants it all. ]
And a forest was where he first met Shane.
Well. Met him again, in that form.
Regardless, it's the kind of place he associates with excitement. Pleased, he grips William's hand and all but dances towards it, so graceful are his movements. He's fast, and eager. ]
I could not have you bored. I like this. I like nights like this, full of promise.
[ They reach the trees, and the familiar scent of nature takes Rafa. He seems to grow inside it, both in comfort and in pleasure. It's obvious now, how little he likes being within a castle's stone walls. He looks at William, and thinks the same of him. ]
This air suits you. Where do we go from here? I want to see it all.
[ He moves close to William, hands moving up to slide against his lapels. He'll go everywhere with this boy tonight. He wants it all. ]
[ For William, the forest is just an easy route away from the castle. It doesn't hold the same kind of magic, because as far as he's aware magic does not exist. But still, he is happy beneath the dark leafy bows of the trees, pleased and amused by the other man's reaction. ]
I was not aware we were keeping you confined between our walls, Rafa.
[ He picks his steps very carefully, lacking in the grace of his friend. ]
You belong out here.
[ He reaches out, fingers curling in his sleeve to tug him along a narrow road further into the woods. ] The town lies this way. It's not far of a walk.
I was not aware we were keeping you confined between our walls, Rafa.
[ He picks his steps very carefully, lacking in the grace of his friend. ]
You belong out here.
[ He reaches out, fingers curling in his sleeve to tug him along a narrow road further into the woods. ] The town lies this way. It's not far of a walk.
Edited 2016-04-18 18:26 (UTC)
[ Freedom is its own aphrodisiac. Rafa turns, coming close to William and moving his hands to his waist. Moonlight flickers between treebranches, offsetting Rafa’s skin with silver light. For a moment he looks like a statue, carved and solid and impossible, and then it passes, and he’s a creature full of life again. He slides his arms around the other boy, pulling him close. ]
I love nights like this. There’s much to enjoy in forests, but in cities, too. Surrounded by people. I am a King, but I prefer to move. Who could spend all their time inside when there is so much to see?
[ He slides back, catching William’s hand again, and tugging him forward. The further they get from the castle, the more Rafa seems to uncoil. There’s something predatory about his grace.
It’s been some time since he truly hunted. ]
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