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 Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2016 8:14 pm
the stars who listen
Chris runs the edge of his fingers along the spin of his book, thoughtful. The touch with Thorne is nice and he's thankful for it, it keeps him from thinking too much right now. Keeps him grounded on Thorne instead of worried.
He hums slightly as Thorne comes closer, lifting an arm to play with the bangs now on the couch. Comfortable, affectionate. He was unknowingly like Thorne in that aspect, his affection rooted in touch, in action.
"Okay," Chris says, soft gentle. His smile is happy and he notes with delight Thorne's slight embarrassment. "It sounds like a good idea. I'm in."
He shuffles a little closer to Thorne, his fingers curling around Thorne's bangs now. Playing, thoughtful.
"I feel special," Chris teases, but it's a gentle tease. He's reassured by his words though, by his smile. The insecurity is gone quickly. "When do you- we, leave?"
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Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2016 8:38 pm
the stars who listen
Thorne lets out a soft hum, a gentle lullaby sound, and lowers his eyes. The sound deepens into a purr as Chris inches closer and plays with his hair, the rumble burrowing into his chest. He opens one eye to look at Chris, pleased and soft at the edges, a different creature all together from the one he composes for when they go outside. When they are put-together and public.
"Thank you," he says, his voice laden down with warmth. "I didn't want to go without you. And anyways, didn't you promise me something about hot pots?"
He laughs, a low curling sound, and inclines his head, nuzzling against Chris's hand.
"You should," he adds, and his words dip, back into that low raw intensity that Chris seems to pull from him. He reaches a hand up and circles it loosely around Chris's wrist. He thumbs at his pulse and looks up at him.
"You are."
And then he drops his and and closes his eyes.
"Three days. If that's alright with you. I'm sorry - it came faster than I expected it."
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Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2016 8:50 pm
the stars who listen
Chris smiles at Thorne's purr, absolutely content and pleased. The buds on his head, normally hidden by his hair, bloom into roses quietly and splendidly. He feels like one of the cats for a moment, but the feeling passes quickly. This moment he knows, is theirs and only theirs. No one else will see this.
"No need to thank me," He says, still playing with Thorne's hair. A curl wrapped around his thumb. He laughs softly, "That I did. And it's nice enough weather to appreciate them too."
Thorne leans forward and Chris drags his nails lightly down his scalp, in a way he knows he likes. Almost second nature, really.
Thorne, as usual, surprises him though and he blinks, a blush settling over his cheeks and the top of his ears. It's faint but very much there and he casts his eyes down, the barest hint of a smile.
"That's perfect," Chris murmurs and after a second, opens his book back up. "Plenty of time to pack."
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Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2016 9:19 pm
i'll be your oxygen, you be my gravity
New York City is strangely cold for September. Thorne remembers the muggy heat of it, the sound of his mothers laughter, his brothers faraway looks. His father, most of all, but his father was dead. Family business still lingers, but his father is dead. Has been dead for years.
They check into a hotel - it's fancy and paid for and Thorne drags Chris down onto one of the beds the second they get in the door for no reason other than to forget what they're here for in the end.
In the morning, before Chris is awake, Thorne gets a text.
He leaves a note, of course. He tells Chris exactly where he'll be and where to meet him and exits as quietly as he can. He dresses the part of a business mans son, nothing but sharp lines and arching curves beneath a navy trench coat he has left open just to piss his brother off.
The air is still cold, and Thorne's breath mists the air as he finds his brother waiting for him in the sleepy blue hues of morning.
"I'm sorry I missed the anniversary," he says.
His brother says, "I'm glad you came back."
Around them, the cemetery is quiet. And together, they lay flowers over their mothers grave.
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Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2016 9:52 pm
i'll be your oxygen, you be my gravity
Chris isn't expecting the chill in New York - he's not sure what to expect, really, but it's colder than Ashdown and he wraps himself in his jackets and looks to Thorne. There's something in his eyes that lingers and Chris can't tell what it is, but it worries him a little.
It worries him less when he's dragged onto a bed in the hotel room, when he's able to curl around Thorne and pretend they're here only for other reasons.
When he wakes up it's distinctly colder than when he went to bed and he gropes around, finding the note. He gets dressed quickly, not out of fear but because he wants to meet him soon. He knows what those places are like.
It's by the gate where Chris waits, feeling more chilled by the minute. He's put a cardigan on under a blazer he packed, dressed in something that he's worn for work before. A decent outfit, mostly respectable, but not warm enough.
He wants Thorne to hurry up. He wants him to take however much time he needs, because he knows what it's like.
He waits.
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Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2016 10:05 pm
i'll be your oxygen, you be my gravity
Thorne plays with a lily as he steps away from his mothers grave. Together with his brother, they make for the gates of the cemetery. In the half light, in the mist, they look nearly inhuman together. Two figures cut from marble and stone, carrying the strong Roman shoulders of a powerful father and the angular features of a woman from a world far away.
Thorne does not wait for his brother when they exit the gates, but moves straight for Chris. His brother only watches, far away, knowing limits. Knowing distance. They share one last look before his brother turns to a black car parked at the curb with a beautiful woman in the drivers seat. She smiles fondly at Thorne from her place.
He smiles back. He'd promised at least one dinner with them. But not now. Not today. They had always dealt better with their sorrows in separate sectors. Too close, and they would atrophy into a fight.
"Chris," Thorne says, drawing close enough. There's a different sort of sorrow in his eyes, but it mutes beneath a flare of fondness, warmth. "I'm glad you came."
He plays with the lily in his hands.
He looks up at Chris.
"It looks like we're allowed to be normal for a day," he says, a soft edge of mischief rooted in his voice. It hides a question. A soft request - take me away from here.
"What do you want to do?"
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Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2016 10:23 pm
i'll be your oxygen, you be my gravity
He's not sure how long it is, but eventually Chris spots a pair of figures coming towards the gates. He's spent enough time studying Thorne that he can spot him, even in the low light that the morning is bringing. Angular, cut a little different than the slouchy things Chris is used to, but enough that he knows its him.
He does not know the figure next to him and he's almost not sure if he wants to know. They are cut similarly enough, gorgeously enough, however that Chris can make a guess. Keeps the information to himself as Thorne beelines towards him, in a coat that Chris is jealous of. As they share a last look, as Chris watches and keep silent.
Perhaps another day he will ask.
But for now he presses close to Thorne, shivering, trying to draw body heat from him. He's never done very well with the cold, no matter where he's grown up. "Of course I came," He murmurs, watching the lily between them. A memory flares to life but he pushes it away for now. He knows that look in Thorne's eyes well, has seen it before.
"I suggest," He says first, "That we get coffee because it's too early to be alive and I would like to be warm. And then you take me somewhere interesting to be that is hopefully, also warm. After that, hot pot for lunch."
He smiles at Thorne, soft. Holds out his hand to him, an invitation.
"Does that sound alright?"
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Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2016 10:49 pm
i'll be your oxygen, you be my gravity
The car pulls away into the mist, and Thorne watches it go. He knows his nephews and nieces want to see him. Knows his brother wants him home - just not now. Knows that he has in-laws that would smother him with their arms and their conversations, desperate to patch the gaps made between them in recent years.
And it scared him.
So he let himself fold into Chris, let the warmth of the other presence chase away his self doubt. He reaches out one arm, winds it around Chris's shoulder, and laughs, a soft-sweet sound.
"I'm sorry, you didn't have to come so early," he remarked. "But luckily for you, I know a place. And then - I'll show you gallery, if you want." Thorne laughs. "Hot pot, and then - room service? The place we're at serves it all night long. It's going to storm later... we should just spend the night inside."
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Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2016 11:09 pm
i'll be your oxygen, you be my gravity
"Of course I did," Chris replies easily, burrowing into Thorne's side. He's warm and a comfort, normalcy in a city that he's unfamiliar with and to be honest, a little scared in. "You don't leave someone alone after something like this."
His voice comes out quiet but experienced. He knows something and maybe one day he'll share but for now it's something he'll keep to himself. The arm around his shoulder grounds him though and he smiles at Thorne.
"I'd love to see the gallery," He says easily, bumping Thorne a little. "Room service also sounds good, I think I'd much rather enjoy a storm inside. Maybe read a book or something."
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Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2016 11:44 pm
i'll be your oxygen, you be my gravity
Thorne exhales a laugh, letting Chris burrow against him. After a moment, He unwinds just enough to shrug his jacket off and wraps it around Chris's shoulders. It still holds his warmth, and he looks up at Chris and smiles, even though the quiet sorrow still lingers.
"Thank you," he says gently. He looks back at the graveyard. "The anniversary was a month ago. Usually... I do this trip annually. In a way, I'm glad it happened like this though. This part was always the loneliest."
And he laughs. "Sorry," he adds, quiet, smiling, "I always say more than I mean to on days like these."
He lowers one hand and hooks a finger around Chris's, questioning. Offering.
"The gallery will be a mess with the move still happening," Thorne snorts, "And I'll order us something absurd at 3AM."
His grin slips, mischievous and teasing.
"Oh? Read a book? You sure you won't be too busy telling me that banana bread doesn't deserve nuts in it, or how to pronounce tomato?"
He tilts his head, leans his shoulder against Chris's.
"I'd like that though," he adds, thoughtful. "It'll be a good night."
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 12:01 am
i'll be your oxygen, you be my gravity
Chris blinks at the jacket around his shoulders, looking at Thorne with surprise. It turns into a warm smile though and he burrows down into the jacket, the pink tinting his ears and cheeks not entirely from the cold. But he's happy and now, warmer than before, everything smelling like Thorne.
Like home.
"I can imagine," Chris says and he thinks of Korea for a second. He thinks of his sister, of Jejudo. He hums for a second then says, "You can talk, if you want. It always makes it better, I found. I don't mind, I like listening to you."
He intertwines his fingers with Thorne's almost instantly, holding them together closely. Tightly.
"So it'll be like when I helped you move in, and basically home then," Chris says easily, with a tease. "Always doing something absurd at odd hours of the night."
He scowls then, but it's more play than anything. A fake pout.
"That was one time, thank you! I think you'd want me to leave you alone anyways, considering the bruise I gave you last time."
It melts away easily into laughter though fond, affectionate. He gives their linked hands a gentle squeeze.
"Yeah," He says, "Yeah, it will be."
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 12:21 am
just something that we wanna try
Chris for once manages to know where they're going when it comes to lunch, the restaurant one he's been to in the past with his family. It's a little hole in the wall, but it's good, and Chris knows exactly what to order that he feels comfortable bringing Thorne.
When they're settled at the table, the pot of broth sitting in front of Chris waiting to be brought to a boil (Chris decided to do a split of both spicy and a light vegetable broth - he's good with spicy but he knows that he might not want it constantly) he gives Thorne a nudge.
"It's probably a bit late to ask, but you aren't allergic to seafood are you?"
It's a gentle tease, less than a real question, but Chris is warm and happy and wants to indulge himself.
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 12:33 am
just something we wanna try
Thorne is happy for once to be led instead of leading. New York City is grand and easy to get lost in. He remembers it in parts and pieces. He still has a list of coffee places in his mind that are the best, still knows the exhibits and shortcuts and how not to stand out - or stand out just enough to be avoided.
He's glad that Chris takes control of this though, because his family had never been into places like these.
Laughter curls from his throat at the question. He glances at Chris,cheeks still red and warm from the change in temperature once they'd come inside.
"Only bees," Thorne responds, blinking at Chris with a soft smile. "I would go crazy if I was allergic to seafood. Or chocolate. It would have been impossible to grow up on the coast."
He nudges Chris, a returning gesture.
"Your turn," he adds, grinning, "Are you tragically allergic to anything I should know about?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 12:39 am
just something that we wanna try
Despite the warmth of the restaurant, Chris still has his cardigan close to him, only draped loosely over his shoulders. It'll move to his lap eventually but for now it's providing some warmth as he moves forward, scraping some of the longer to cook vegetables into the broth. It'll take it some time to get to boiling and he knows the timing of everything that it won't get too soft in the time to eat.
"Bees huh? Funny for you to have so many plants, since bees kind of come with the territory," Chris says, "I'm not allergic to anything though, at least nothing that I know of. We never got it tested as a kid and if I was allergic to seafood, I would've known. I grew up on an island for the first part of my life."
He grins at Thorne. "Your turn for a question."
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 12:57 am
just something that we wanna try
Thorne laughs. It's a warm, hearty sound, and he touches the fresh tattoo against his neck, the fragile lines that make up the wings of the one thing he's allergic to.
"They don't try to sting you if you pose no threat to them," Thorne responds, "and besides, I've learned to be careful. Anyways, I've always liked to tempt fate, I guess - or so the rest of my family would like to say."
He snorts at Chris, wry.
"Well, hopefully that theory proves true."
He blinks and his expression twists slightly, mischievous.
"Oh, is it a game now?" He laughs and hums and ponders. "Where do you want to go next?"
He tilts his head, eyes warm. "Not here in New York. But in general."
He makes a plane with his hand and blinks. "And how?"
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