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 Posted: Wed May 01, 2024 9:13 pm
“That is true, I feel like she would have just gotten more creative with her attempts on things if you had not been there to sort of mediate that night.” It would have been easier for her if he’d kept drinking anyway. Overall things were working out, more so after they’d moved back into the larger home. “I guess I am a teacher so teaching driving might not be too hard compared to the theory I teach.”
Leaning back into them as they draped over him, he reached up and trailed his fingers down their cheek. “Okay, maybe just start with the stack I was grading. It was a multiple-choice exam so there is a small answer key in my desk drawer locked up. Maybe you could even help me grade a bit so I can work on other things I need to prep. Next semester I think I can push more things onto the online site so I can avoid more paper. New students new things to manage as well though. I think I will still have the same TA though, she has helped a with that transition to the electronic side of things. I am glad I have that bit of help with things, it saves me time otherwise I feel like I would be living either there, my office in the Rift, or the music shop when I get time to work on orders.” Looking up at them with a smile, he leaned up to kiss them.
“I always sleep better when you are home, I also think maybe going through things might be a good idea for other reasons but you can order some starter workbooks or what you think might help you. I have some background in it at least to get me started. I can go with you if you want to go now? I really have no need to rush though, the grading just has to be done by next week. Everything will have to be ready before I have them all take my final exam.” It would be the worst in that last week before as he managed grading projects and any last-minute late work. It really was the one time every semester when he could be caught living and sleeping in his office at the University or in the staff room for the art department.
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Posted: Wed May 01, 2024 9:13 pm
“That’s fine and so long as you have an answer key I’ll help with grading as well.” Because that would be quick and easy enough to do, it would free up time for Aloysius, the blond liked the idea of helping the other and getting to assist in something important as well. “So I’ll walk through into your office, grab the stack and head them home. If I need to I can always subspace things and pull them out once home as well. Desiree can cover my signature. That way we can make this work easier.” And Aloysius really should have more exams, and such, which had an answer key so he could help more with these sorts of things.
“Working on orders…so you do build them yourself then. I’ve been looking into that online, the process and what goes into making an instrument. I wouldn’t mind watching perhaps….” Wanting to get a bit closer to things, to get closer to what his partner did for a living. He would never put together any sort of instrument, he was not talented like that, but he would very much like to see the others craft and watch him work. It had looked like an act of passion and love putting together a violin…something which took and attention to detail, something you gave for an art you loved.
“We can head out to get some books for me to start learning Italian, because I’d like your opinion there, we can pick up pastries afterwards from whatever bakery you want. My treat. Perhaps we can drop some at your sisters…a small gesture she might appreciate from us in passing.” Because he really did want to try and mend that bridge just a bit with them. “Then we can handle ferrying your paperwork to the house. Because I’d like to get that done and out of the way as soon as we can, especially with finals and all coming up.” The idea sounded good, a nice and almost relaxing way to spend the day, as he pressed his lips to the others temple and held him.
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Posted: Wed May 01, 2024 9:15 pm
“We can do that then but it is getting late. We have the whole weekend ahead of us though since it is Friday. As much as I like going through the mirrors with you it can wait a bit unless you really want to start tonight. You still have your own finals to study for and homework, though I know you are more on top of assignments than almost every student I have seen over the years.” Aloysius poked their cheek gently as he spoke, part of him just wanting to rest here for once instead of working and working like he always had. Maybe because they had spoiled him a bit by keeping his schedule free or just helping him out in all sorts of ways he’d never really thought he’d needed help in.
“Yes, I manage all of the orders though I have taken more as of late since things have been a bit better for me. It can be a bit boring to be around me when I work which is why I never brought it up. Maybe when I get something moved along a bit more, I can bring you by the store. Melody hired someone to run the retail parts of things with distributors and actual sales but I still manage the instruments and everything that goes with that behind the scenes. Ah, you were away that night, when Alexandre offered us that contract as it were. I guess I have been taking on a lot more lately…” Looking up at them as they kissed him, he was still managing to take on more and more things while they were trying to get him to have free time. It really was just an endless cycle it seemed.
“I will let you decide what we do tonight though, okay? A bakery does sound nice but we still have that cannoli kit you got as well. I know I could eat more sweets but you might say that would be bad for me.” Aloysius laughed even as he tried to frown at them, they hadn’t broken that habit of his at least even if they ate a lot better than he did.
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Posted: Wed May 01, 2024 9:22 pm
”I wouldn’t mind a quick walk over to your office, it is fast enough.” There would be no need for driving and subspace would allow them to carry a lot, it would also give him something to do tonight…or maybe in the morning. He had a feeling there might be other plans for tonight. “Unless you want me to wander over tomorrow morning…” He could sneak in, without being noticed or heard, and get the others paperwork over.
Turning and nipping at the others finger which poked his cheek. “I have a lot of reason to work for what I want, unlike most everyone else.” He’d had nothing and was clawing his way to the top…he was motivated in ways most of his classmates would and could never understand, which was good for them, but it kept him on top of things more than most. It also made him a hell of a student who was quick to getting everything done, and yet he never bragged and rarely raised his hand to offer up questions or comments. He just kept his head down and worked - hard.
“I’ll rework your schedule once summer vacation hits, before you decide your fall schedule for uni. I’ll work with you on it so it’s optimal for you - I don’t care about them.” He would always keep the others needs in his mind when figuring out such things, because what did the school and students matter? “And I think I’d like to see a bit of each stage in the process, to see it first hand, I don’t know who the person in the youtubes was anyway…how good they are and the quality they produce. I know you and the quality there so I’d rather see that.” Laughing he nuzzled the others neck before giving a gentle n**. “Ok, so then…how about the bakery, we can pick up a few more things. On the way back the bookstore, because I really do like the quiet tonight and I’d like to avoid other people while we’re out…it would be nice.” Spending time mostly alone in a bookstore, it felt peaceful. “I’ll grab your school work tomorrow morning. We can do the kit and desert once we get home and then…whatever you want afterwards.” Whatever that might be…though he was certain he could come up with ideas, and assume what his partner might have in mind as well.
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Posted: Wed May 01, 2024 9:22 pm
“Tomorrow morning for work things, since it will be a weekend nobody will really be around to see us anyway. I can go with you since I need to bring the key to my desk.” Frowning at the n** at his finger he pulled it away.
“You can handle a bit of my schedule but even if you do not care about my students or the university I very much do. It helps… balance things out for me. I know I work a lot between all sorts of responsibilities I have taken on, and I will try to get better about things. At least with my orders, they only come in rarely at this point. I mostly handle some repairs here and there. I think you have only seen my viola, not one that I have made. It was made by my grandfather and he was the one that taught me everything about music and my work.” There was a sadness in his voice and eyes as he spoke, just bringing them up hurt. Remembering that they’d been gone over a decade at this point and how hard things had gotten because they had passed away and left things to him instead of his father.
Leaning into their nuzzling, he pulled their arm around him to hold him tighter while reaching over with his other hand to trace his fingers over their cheek again. “We can do that if you would like and then we can spend some time together… I would really like that. You make me so very happy, you know that right?” He honestly still didn’t know if he would have made it without them or what he would do if something happened to them. It wasn’t something he wanted to think about either.
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Posted: Wed May 01, 2024 9:22 pm
Watching Aloysius bring his finger away, frowning, he reached up to pull the others hand back and pressed a kiss to his finger tip. “Playful n**, don’t frown.” He whispered, moving the others hand to cup his own cheek. “Alright, I can bring you with me easy enough, I wasn’t sure if you’d want to join me for a mirror walk.” And he didn’t want to assume such things, though he really didn’t mind bringing the other with him through the mirrors. Since they were just going from one to another it would be quick with seemingly no time spent in mirrorspace at all.
“I’ll handle as much as you let me and then some if I can, I think we can find you time and make life easier for you. Though, I might suggest a little less time out at night for the Negaverse. You’re a general…you don’t need to be out every night. Let your team know to call Dessire if you need help and we’ll both respond to any calls for help.” He was more than willing to help the others team, if it helped the other and meant they could spend more time together. He could also but his skills to some use as well. “Just make quota and then turn it in and take the rest of the time off.” Because Aloysius stretched himself too thin and pushed himself too much.
“I know and you’ve given me so much. I do love you so very much.” He hadn’t considered a relationship in the past, he’d never had a reason to, and he hadn’t planned on it when he’d first helped the other. But things changed, and he’d stumbled upon the other that one night, and Aloysius had taken him in and didn’t care about his past. The other supported him and cared for him so well. It was hard not to change his opinion on things and to fall for someone, impossible if you asked him. “Shall we go then? We can let the dishwasher handle the dishes and we can run out fast.”
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Posted: Wed May 01, 2024 9:24 pm
Patting their cheek he nodded. “I do rather enjoy them, teleporting gets draining after a while even if it might be more effective. Especially after those long days where I have class, then the after school program to teach all before heading out for patrolling.” Those days that left him passing out in his office down in the dark kingdom or making it home to barely reach the couch before falling asleep from exhaustion.
“Maybe a bit more, simple things for now. Not because I think it would be hard on you but mostly because I want to make sure you have time for yourself as well. That and I am still hesitant on some agents being around, we never did figure out which one hurt you that time. I may pull back on patrols but I still am working on that project of mine. I have to figure out when I will be pushing to test things, the problem is it can be a bit dangerous if I am not prepared or if I cannot find enough support in the Rift. Unfortunately, you cannot go there… but I should be okay. I can handle myself with youma, probably more than a lot of other officers can.” Getting up out of his seat, he turned and pulled them close.
“I love you too and I will always help when I can. We can head out now.” Pressing a kiss to their cheek he gathered the plates to get into the dishwasher before picking up his coat and scarf. “It is a bit chilly out, you might want to put a coat on too.”
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Posted: Wed May 01, 2024 9:25 pm
“Thankfully mirrorwalking doesn’t drain us like teleporting does for you.” It meant he was always able to walk through and bring the other somewhere else - like home. He just couldn’t get down to the others office in the dark kingdom, though he wished he could, so he could bring the other home from there. What he could do though was free up more time for Aloysius so he wasn’t that tired, so he didn’t pass out there.
“I have time for myself, don’t worry, I’ll be working with and helping your sister. She’ll make sure I have time to myself.” Because she liked him and Aloysius knew that. Melody wouldn’t push him harder than he could handle, she wanted him to help and would need him in good shape for that. “I trust your agents, I’m certain you’ve taught them not to attack the dark mirror.” So he felt safe, and would feel safe in helping them out.
“I do worry about this project, can it even be tested and make sure nothing will happen?” He whispered, pressing his lips to the others right after Aloysius had kissed his cheek. “I know you do, and I’m glad we met even if it wasn’t under the best circumstances.” He’d been able to save the other and help himself as well. How a simple run in had helped them both so much. “I mean we’re dealing with magic…I worry about it hurting you.” He was moving to get a coat, slowly exiting the kitchen to find himself a warm coat and a scarf, he glanced back towards the kitchen. “We’ll make cannolis and have dessert once we get back home.”
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Posted: Wed May 01, 2024 9:25 pm
The mention of his sister did leave a bit of a bad taste in his mouth but he knew they were right. Melody would need them to be focused and not drowning in work if she wanted all her plans to go through when it came to whatever project she was planning that needed an accountant. It didn’t sit well with him but the fact they would be working from home almost exclusively had made it more palatable. It meant they wouldn’t be out and about as much for the days he had off from the university during the summer.
“I know you trust them, but I still worry. I will always worry when it comes to keeping you safe.” Even if they were an eternal he would always worry about them being taken from him. Following them out of the kitchen he offered a nod as he adjusted his scarf. “I have tested it a bit, on my youma. So on a small scale it works, it is just a matter of it will work in the field as I intend things to work. I know Benitoite will be assisting and perhaps another general who I assisted before with finding a youma to bond with. If it turns out…. It will help so many of the senshi and weaker officers in traversing the Rift.” Anything to offer a measure of safety for those who were curious about that place.
“I will be okay, I am fairly certain that Benitoite will pull me out of there if things go a bit south.” There was enough understanding about his need to return home after they’d had that spar. With his assistance in helping Kafka he was more than certain they’d do at least that for him.
Lacing his fingers with theirs, Aloysius leaned into them. “Of course, I look forward to that. Something new to do together and I get to see how you do at it.”
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Posted: Wed May 01, 2024 9:26 pm
“I know you will…I expect it even., But I’ve earned my wings just as you earned your rank. I’ll always worry but you have experience and skill - power as well.” “It also depends on humans, youma are different.” Glancing over his shoulder at the other, while wrapping a scarf about his neck. “I don’t even know if it could, or should, be tested on a person. If it would constitute as experimentation or something inhumane like that.” He was worried, as he always would be, magic was rather unstable by nature it seemed. While the dark mirror, and thus magic in a sense, had given him a home and a place of belonging he also didn’t always trust it. He’d seen mirrorspace turn on its own.
“I think you and the other general are similar enough to understand each other. Even if he seems far more temperamental you two are close enough that he wouldn’t turn on you. Not just because you're both officers in the Negaverse either. He let you close to his family…I think that says a lot.” He knew about the work Aloysius did for the Evans family, because why would he not? He knew about the small blond general as well, especially after that night they’d turned up at the house.
“Mmm, I don’t know. I think it’ll be easy enough, it’s a kit so I shouldn’t mess up. Now if you asked me to make them from scratch, like you do, I’d botch them up badly. Italian I might be but I know I can’t make a cannoli.” He had found out his father was northern Italian, from Verona of all places, Melody had found out a lot of information for him. He didn’t mind working for her…she had helped him so much and it would make life easier if he could work from home. It also would be nice to be working for one boss with one thing to focus on rather than a company with many files and people and such. Letting the others hand go, just long enough to pull a coat on, he took the others hand once more. “Let’s go. And maybe, you should offer to help that blond to bond with another youma. You said he lacked one…he could use one perhaps.” Shrugging a bit.
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Posted: Wed May 01, 2024 9:27 pm
“Everything should be okay, the tuning fork is just a simple thing. I never noticed any ill effects when I used one though they are fragile and shake apart on their own rather quickly. I will be careful though, I always am. I can show you one maybe soon if you are worried though, just so you can see it a bit but if I explain how and why it does what it does you might just get a headache. It relates to music theory and maybe a bit of magic but more of something up my alley like my fife.” He never used it around them because he wasn’t sure if it would catch them up in a trance like the civilians. It hadn’t effected Desiree or any of his Lieutenants so maybe chaos was immune to it but mirror senshi were different.
Part of him considered what they were saying about Benitoite but she still couldn’t really trust them fully. There were too many moments that he’d seen of them taking satisfaction in the fighting and killing of order members without as much as a word uttered to try and get anyone to join the negaverse’s ranks. Sure he might teach their family but that left him just as opinion to being watched and known as they were to him.
“Maybe one day you might pick up some of my baking habits, it would be nice to see. I like hearing you say that you are Italian. Not that it changes who you are to me, it just feels nice that we share that even if I was skipped on the ability to really tan.” Not that he really burned but the difference wasn’t as much as Liam had.
The mention of Benitoite and youma had his brow furrowed for a moment as he thought about it. “If the situation was simpler I would agree but… hrm I may tell you the story another time but there is a reason he has avoided taking on another youma. If I approach that topic with them it will have to be done very delicately I believe.” He’d met their youma in the past and knew more than he’d like to know about things and how they had partially effected that blonde general.
Leaning into them again he smiled. “Off we go then.”
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