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 Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 8:49 pm
It'd been a while since Einar had ventured from the confines of his room or the library and out into the open, his past few days or weeks spent inside pouring over book after book in an effort to learn what he could about history.
His country had changed so much in such a short amount of time that he found it hard to believe, though with time being fractured now there wasn't much of a difference in the actions Norway had recently taken. He had hoped that by reading about the past Einar would have found a way to help[ change his time if he ever got back, a way to restore things to how they were in his youth.
He hadn't found anything (naturally) so for the time being had given up and decided to take a trip into the sunlight. Staying indoors wasn't really his thing anyway and part of him yearned to jump the borders of the compound and simply go on an adventure with only the items on his back. While it sounded fun in theory...
"But I don't think Shee or her brother would like that."
Einar spoke out loud to reassure himself that his voice did still work after staying silent for a while, and as he entered the sunlight drenched grasses of the gardens he had to squint for a moment to allow his vision to adjust as well. The sun felt so warm...
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:00 pm
Lai had spent the past few days hiding out in the kitchens or hiding out in his room. He preferred the kitchens though, that way his mind was focused on the food or cooking utensil in front of him and not wandering and asking questions about a few days previous with a certain other man in the Training Facility. But now the fridges were full to bursting with the food he had made and his room was more like a prison to him, locking him away from any contact. That to him was bad even though he had put the key in the lock himself. Lai had decided this morning that since the day was so nice, he might as well make good with the little summer warmth LOTUS' location in Nepal had to offer before frigid winter set in.
In his room he had contemplated taking his now well greased bicycle out with him, and decided to do just that. Winter would offer no time for him to enjoy the simple pleasures of riding around. But where to go? The Russian was readily avoiding the Training Facility and the only other place he could think of was the gardens. So here he was, walking his rust red bicycle down the hall in the same clothing he always wore, plus some vanishing bloodstains on the right shoulder and collar. On his face was fresh gauze that he had put on the moment he had awoken, the cut just beneath his right blue-gray eye was still open and could be infected if given the chance, a risk Lai did not want to take.
Lai rounded the corner and stepped down the slight step into the gardens. His assumption was right, the weather was nice for bicycling. He sighed, relaxing already and was certain he was alone. The only other noise he heard besides birds chirping in the trees was the sound of his bicycle tires as they took the nonexistent plunge from the stone stair to the stone path.
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:14 pm
He found the benches to be a little hard on his back when he laid on them, the stone reminding him that if it hurt his butt to sit on it then it would hurt his back and shoulders to rest on it. Still, it was sunny out and he liked the feel of its warmth, so he ignored the ache and protest his body was issuing in order to stay basking.
The sounds of Lai's bike naturally did not reach his ears thanks to the Russian having oiled it before he came out, and Eianr simply listened to the sounds of nature before he opened his mouth to add his own noise to the world.
A simple Russian lullaby issued forth, one he'd heard a few times from the POWs he often spoke with when he was assigned duty near the camp, and he swayed his tone gently as his mind pressed itself to remember the exact tune. He knew the song to be fairly old, old enough that the man who had taught him said it was pretty archaic in his time, and he wondered if a certain Russian who had been on his mind lately knew the words.
" . . . "
He paused as he reached a section of the song that was fuzzy in his memory, and with a frown he started singing the entire thing over again with hopes he would remember by the time he reached that portion once more. His voice was louder this time around, Einar's mood lifted by being outside.
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:28 pm
The sun was fairly high and with no one being around Lai eased the first two buttons from his shirt out of their holes and let his collar open up. He felt better, not so uptight now and ready for an afternoon of relaxing. The Russian walked his bicycle only a few short feet from the garden archway and was about to mount the saddle when he heard the most peculiar sound. Not birdsong...Lyric song...Russian lyric song. He knew the words. It was an old lullaby his aunt would sing to him when he was younger. The voice that sang it was close, but Lai figured he would be well hidden if he eavesdropped a little. The Russian man kicked his bicycle's stand down and left it on the path before walking into the shade of some weeping willow trees.
Lai paused under one of the drooping trees, his hand resting on the bark and his head nodding to the tempo. He himself could not sing well, but whoever was singing was divine to his ears. The Russian knew great singing when heard it and whoever was doing it up ahead deserved a stage and audience. After a few moments pause he slipped around some branches and peered out through the leaves. The voice was coming from a bench a few yards away from the willow's shade. Whoever it was was lying down and making it hard for Lai to see. Calmly and quietly he moved out from his hiding place, rustling the leaves as he did so.
Who is singing so well? It is alluring, like the siren song in that Greek story...
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:50 pm
" . . . again? I got further this time though."
The song stopped as once more Einar reached a block that was fuzzy to his memory, though one a bit further along the line from his first blank. It was true that re-singing had helped him out thus far, so with a heavy sigh he started at the beginning again.
He had a rather bad habit of listening to only his voice while he sang, not to mention he kept his eye closed as well, so Einar was unaware that Lai was growing closer to him. He still thought that he was alone in the garden and that the others were off doing as they pleased, so he lifted his hand slightly to let his finger sway in time with the unheard beat.
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 10:00 pm
Lai approached silently, entranced by the singing. Once false move and the person would stop and probably be upset with him for sneaking about and ruining their piece. As the singing stopped at a bridge between two stanzas of the song, he froze. Not only because of the singer stopping, but because the speaking voice was one he knew all too well and actually remembered. Einar Willason.
Immediately Lai's face flushed red as memories of their last encounter, mainly select moments that involved wound care and then the goodbye pressing vividly into his mind's eye. He staggered back two involuntary and heavy steps as Einar started to sing again. It couldn't be him, could it? The voices, one singing, one speaking, were both so different. Maybe someone was pulling his leg and was a good mimic. That had to be it! Lai chuckled nervously and finally regained control of his body enough to take steps up to the bench. He reached the armrest and peered over.
Sure as spring, it was Einar. Lai's hand went to his mouth to stifle a gasp. Of enjoyment, pleasure, fear, or surprise was intelligible, but more than likely a mix of them all. A cocktail of emotions from the Russian in one single burst. Lai realized, now that he was here, he couldn't move. His body froze again. He grimaced, cursing his muscles and the circumstances in his head. What to do? Should he say something? But what? If he just remained silent and Einar opened his eye...Oh no...What could happen?! He had been half dreading, half wanting to see the Norwegian again and now he was within arm's reach. Think Lai, think!
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 10:17 pm
Einar had not heard Lai's approach thanks to his singing, nor did he hear the gasp or any other sounds that the Russian man produced. He was off in his own world, glad to be past the foggy blacks in his mind that involved the song, and for a moment it looked like Lai would be in the clear. Then, for a brief moment, Einar frowned.
"Did the sun move behind a cloud or something?"
Things would have been alright for the Russian if he hadn't been leaning and casting his shadow down onto Einar, the sun being blocked by his thin frame. It was only over Einar's face and not his legs so that is what caused the Norwegian to notice the change in temperature, and after a moment Einar opened his eye to check.
....and he froze as well. The person he'd been thinking about, the one that caused him to sing the Russian lullaby in the first place, was looming over him. He had to blink a few times to be sure (and to let his eye readjust) and each time that Lai was still there after his eye opened assured him it was not a dream.
"I..."
He was at a loss for words as a quick shade of red spread across his nose and cheeks, almost accenting the color of the sweater he wore. He wasn't in his uniform today, because he decided it would only be worn on missions, so he'd settled for a reddish sweater whose color had reminded him of Lai's hair. How embarrassing to see him now.
"Hello again."
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 10:29 pm
There are times when one hates oneself. Not because of a stupid thing one did, but because one's body won't move when one asks...No...Begs it!
Lai was hating himself right now for that very reason. His body was frozen solid to the spot. Vaguely he realized he was casting his shadow (another thing he was hating on) across Einar's upper body. As Einar spoke about the sun vanishing Lai's mind was shrieking and trying to regain motor function of Lai's legs to move out of there fast. But of course that didn't happen. What a crazy random happenstance!
As Einar opened his eye Lai's face went darker. The human body had how many pints of blood? Well, in any case, more than half was in the Russian's face as he gazed down into Einar's face. His expression was horror at being found out, but that little pouting feeling from before had kicked the joy switch on and Lai was elated to see Einar's green eye again. Such a lovely color, and looking right at him too.
The Russian was surprised as he saw the red color cross over Einar's face as well. It was clear he had not fallen and forgotten Lai like the Russian had last time they had met and re-met. Lai did not notice the color of Einar's sweater so did not connect the two colors. All of his attention was on the face of the Norwegian just below him. The Norwegian that had, at last meeting's end, kissed him quite suddenly in the hallway outside of his room before shutting the door on the Russian. Lai struggled to find his voice and then only thing that came out as words had to be the one of the most stupid things for anyone to say.
"I remember your face...This time."
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 10:41 pm
Finding the any words to say was hard for Einar, which was rather unusual for the chatty Norwegian, but without much else he managed to sit himself up so his face was a bit closer to Lai's. His look of momentary confusion had long since passed and was now replaced with a rather coy grin, his eye looking into Lai's.
"Eh? I would have been hurt if you had, considering I was the one who helped bandage your eye. How is the wound, by the way? Any better?"
His teasing turned to concern as he looked over the fresh gauze, his eyes studying it for a moment. In between reading books of the history of his country he'd been looking up odd and end medical facts as a refresher of sorts, a way to know what to do in case something serious should happen to Lai again. He had never thought of looking over the information to help himself, as he knew how much his own body could handle, so he thought it wouldn't be bad to aid someone else.
"Anyway, I...what brings you out here?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 10:55 pm
Still no movement from Lai's body as Einar sat up. The other man was closer and that was both frightening and elating. The grin threw Lai off momentarily but he shook it off with a toss of his head.
"It is better. Turning purple and blue now, but better." The Russian winced as his fingers pressed the gauze harder than he had intended. He felt so awkward, but grateful that Einar had some concern for his injury. He fixed a nervous smile on his face beneath the red color. "I do not think I could forget you now Einar. Your face and voice are permanently ingrained I think."
Oh Lai, you twenty-two year old fool, you just let everything come spilling out when you are nervous, don't you? Yes, yes you do and your face is showing it.
Lai kept standing, now trembling slightly to add to his reddening face and uneasiness. Looking at Einar, Lai must look ready to keel over and die, while the Norwegian must look concerned yet calm in his own way. At the question, Lai started.
"W-Well...I came out to enjoy the nice...Weather. An-And ride around on my..." He paused. Saying the word 'bicycle', even thinking it, brought back the memory of the first wound cleaning. Just say it already you fool! "My bicycle." It came out rushed, one word tripping after the other.
"Then...Then I heard singing and I was entranced by it. The voice was so pretty and the song was one from my childhood. Then I stumbled upon you...You were the singer..." Lai's eyes were wide as he kept looking at Einar and trailed off his sentence. He must look lost and definitely scared out of his wits. Why does this man do this to him? And how?
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Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 2:17 pm
"I suppose I should take that as a compliment. It means I won't have to introduce myself to you each and every time we meet."
While he may have been sounding calm and collected while he spoke, inwardly Einar was grasping at straws for what to say. He didn't understand why even thinking around this man was far more difficult that it had been the first two times they ran into one another, and he couldn't even begin to understand why he was having chest pains. The most logical thought to him was his body was telling him that being outside was hazardous and he needed to move back indoors, but that probably wasn't it.
"So you're riding your bike again? It does look a little safer here with more grass than rocks and few obstacles. Didn't we plan on meeting here so you could try to teach me again?"
Crap. Einar was also trying to avoid bringing up the topic of last time, cause he was partly hoping Lai's memory was bad (a certain hope) and the man would have forgotten most of their interactions. Mainly cleaning the wounds and, of course, the ending kiss. Luckily for Einar he could move on since Lai mentioned his singing, and the Norwegian's face lit up for a moment with a mixture of flattery and embarrassment at the compliment.
"I...don't sing too often. Singing's not that manly back where I come from but I find that when you hear a voice, even if it's your own, you'll be calm no matter where you are. It helps when I get lost or am nervous."
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Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 2:31 pm
"You still want to learn?" Lai was taken aback, he would have thought the Norwegian would have put the idea out of his mind due to the last time. "I...I could still teach you to ride if you want me to...And we also planned dinner too." Lai tensed at the last comment he made. It was a simple conversation, no more, yet he just dragged up the last thing he had said to Einar before the Norwegian kissed him. Einar had not had an outburst or anything about mentioning their last meeting, but Lai couldn't help but wonder if he was remembering that part in particular at all.
In the Russian's mind the events of the meeting before were clear as new glass and thinking about it made his left hand, right cheek, and lips tingle. It was both pleasant and nerve wracking. His hand twitched as he resisted the urge to press his fingers to his mouth. The urge passed as Einar's face brightened and Lai genuinely smiled at him, no nervousness in it at all. The mix of emotions on the others' face was odd to see, but quite refreshing and...softening, in a way. Lai felt a connection as Einar spoke of his singing not being seen as manly.
"Your singing is to you as my home economics is to me, we both seem to get degraded for a talent because it is not the common picture of masculinity." He remembered at the last meeting saying Einar must have a hidden talent and before he could stop himself the words came out. "So I guess this is your hidden talent Einar?"
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Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 6:19 pm
"Hidden, most likely. I never sang around anyone other than the prisoners of war, but only because none of us spoke the others language. You'd be surprised how easily music transcends language barriers. I taught them a few of my songs and they taught me theirs, though I can't honestly say I know what the words mean. For the Russian songs I'll have to have you tell me, okay?"
Einar winked (a wasted motion thanks to having only one eye), but the way his lip turned up at the corner was a hint that he was at least maybe flirting. Though Einar never really flirted on purpose.
"And I would love to give it another shot, this riding a bicycle thing, though this time you have to let me fall on my own. If I recall a certain woman told me that we should always have our bodies in top shape while being here at LOTUS and I don't know if I want to have the blame for making you so injured."
He didn't want to face Shee's wrath. Women were scary.
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Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 6:30 pm
"That is a shame. You sing wonderfully." Lai's compliment was true to heart, he meant it. It had been a long while since he had heard someone sing like that, and even then the echo off the walls of the symphony hall had distorted the voice that sang on stage. "I have to admit, it was like siren song." There was a nervous laughter in his voice as he admitted what he had thought only a bit before.
The color in the Russian's face had lessened but Lai had not noticed. Though at Einar's odd expression his face flared up again. He nodded politely yet nervously. "I can try, but it can be quite difficult to change Russian over to English."
"I do not know if I could let you fall Einar." Lai said, commenting on the other man's request. "I would not want you to get hurt, you know this already." He smiled, leaning his head to the left slightly as though to view Einar in a different perspective, but in actuality the Russian did not know why he did this action. He continued; "I would not blame you at all. It would be me who chose to fall with you."
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Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 7:00 pm
A siren? Does he really think of me like that?
Einar had to suppress his laughter as he wondered if Lai knew the real meaning behind sirens, the fact that the women would sing to attract men as lovers. The ship crashing was only part of the plan and the sirens would swim out to save the drowning sailors who, when enchanted by the beauty and voice of the sirens, would repay the fish-monsters by having sex with them and making them immortal. If his singing had made Lai crash and come to him then it was a little more than he wanted...for now.
"A siren, is it? I'll have to make sure then never to sing while you're on your bicycle. I wouldn't want you to crash and me have to save you again. I don't think you'd like what is required as a reward."
He shifted his legs and stood up off the bench, his height now dominating over Lai. Even if it was only an inch it was apparent between the two men, and for the first time Einar noticed how slight and effeminate of frame the Russian in front of him seemed to be. It sort of took his breath away and for a moment he seemed shocked and surprised, almost like a mask of confusion, but it quickly passed with a grin.
"Ah, but then I would be the one carrying you to wherever it is that we get out medical aid. I don't injure as easily as you so nothing bothers me as much. I'd feel really guilty if you got hurt again because of me, marring your body with another scar. Already your beautiful face won't be the same anymore."
Geh.
Too late, he couldn't take back what he'd said.
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