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 Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 6:21 pm
Roger nodded and abandoned his admiration to look for tea and cups. He had to admit that he hadn't even looked outside of the shop when he'd visited before. His own house was somewhat separated from his shop, at least by a wall and door.
"Someone like you? Oh, there's plenty of people 'like us'. I have stories... but yes. They are simply more content to ignore it. I, for one, choose to be happy. A-ha!" Finally he came across the cups in a cabinet and grabbed the two nearest. They didn't quite match, but who cared?
"Unless you mean those despicable types that own mismatched china, in which case you are entirely on your own." He was smiling as he placed the cups on the counter and began the search for tea. A lot could be assumed about a man from the tea he kept.
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Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 6:26 pm
"Oh I know...I've met a few in my time, but only ever one who I've really gotten to know. Moved to Palisade four years ago, and I've been here by my lonesome ever sense." He sighed, glancing over to Roger. He rolled his eyes at the comment about his china, laughing.
"Oh come on now, it's not that bad. I just keep dropping the damn things, it's hard to find ones that are easy to hold after you've worked your fingers to jelly after work." He puffed his cheeks up a little, though couldn't hold it for long.
The tea was in a perfect, beautiful tin, and fresh. The moment Roger opened it the smell of earl grey wafted into the room, strong and commanding. He couldn't seem to find any sugar to go with it though.
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Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 6:40 pm
"Hah. I can't even say that, really. I won't dare throw you any numbers. I have a feeling it would work against me. Suffice to say I nearly went to jail a couple of times, but I'm a lucky b*****d, it seems. Some poor woman out there is married to an extremely dishonest man."
That wasn't his only experience, but it pretty well summed-up what had existed of his personal life. Hm. Earl grey, and no accoutrements to be seen. He was a straight tea kind of man, and that boded well.
"Granted, that was back in Palisade. I haven't seen any of them since. No, that's a lie. I haven't known any of them since."
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Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 6:44 pm
"Ah, that poor woman." Nic tsked, finally getting the fire started. "Such a shame. I just wish I didn't have to keep so quiet. I might have found some extremely good company otherwise." He glanced back to Roger, smiling.
"Ah, there's only been one in my book. Lasted a month, have no clue what he's up to. Found work in Palisade, hopefully he's keeping well." He frowned, sitting down at the table he'd claimed as his own. "But it sounds like I'm far behind you in numbers, if I had to guess."
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Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 6:50 pm
"Only a few! Remember, though. I was in the military," Roger said, waving a finger back at Nic before he decided to join him. Their supplies were sitting nearby on the counter, well within reach.
"Besides, you have good company now."
Warmed by the fire, Roger peeled off his jacket and loosened the fabric around his neck before just removing it entirely.
"I hope you don't mind. After all, I've seen you half-naked already."
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Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 6:54 pm
"Mmm." He hummed, leaning back in his chair. "Still, you're right, I've got more than enough good company now." He laughed, watching him. It surprised him a little when he stripped off some of his clothing, though Nicholas made no move to do so to his own.
"Ah...No I don't mind. I was actually considering coming in the middle of summer to see you work in your shop just for that, to be honest." He admitted, the slightest bit nervous. "I still think I might. There's no stopping me once I've made up my mind."
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Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 7:04 pm
"I work outside in the dead of summer," Roger admitted, "It gets hot enough with the forge in the dead of winter, however. It's a fifty-fifty chance that you'll walk in on me shirtless. I try to keep as decent as I can during the day, though. Can you believe that small noblemen are somewhat intimidated by a large, shirtless man covered in soot and surrounded by fire?"
Really, it had taken him a while to recognize that. He wasn't so big in his head. Not outside of training. He moved to sit beside Nic in another chair. He had noticed a slight change in the carpenter's voice and would like to dispel it, but was plenty comfortable himself.
"I'll be company when ever you need it," he said, smiling, "You know where I live."
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Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 7:09 pm
"Yeah, I'm stopping by more often. Best be careful, smith, or I'll be breaking my own tools as an excuse." He teased, unable to keep from doing so. "I think even I'd get a little intimidated about the fire part. I work with wood for a reason you know." He didn't do so well with burns, but perhaps he'd give smithing a shot if Roger would give carpentry a try...
"I like company, you'll find that out rather quickly. But I can't exactly interrupt your work either, now can I?"
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Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 7:14 pm
"Sure you can," Roger shrugged, "People do all the time. You have to use a blade while it's hot, but then it's easy enough to stop. If I was three days behind, maybe, but I've yet to get there."
He grinned over at Nic, admiring his face in the flicker of the fire.
"I enjoy company as well, and if you'd like I doubt you have any peepers. Shirts are... uncomfortable."
He was half-teasing and half-offering. If he made himself more outwardly vulnerable than Nic, would the carpenter be able to relax?
"I don't mind you visiting, and you can stay as long as you like. You're plenty safe within three feet of the anvil. Just don't wear anything you'd like to keep, just in case. Oil's hard to strip out, and there's... just trust me."
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Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 8:06 pm
"Well then, looks like I have something to do in my free time then." He smirked, leaning forward with his elbows on the table a little. Of course, he noticed Roger looking him over in the light, and wasn't exactly keeping his eyes to himself either. It didn't help when he offered to strip further.
"Oh feel free, I'd hate for you to be uncomfortable in here. Of course, I could also...if you wanted." There was an attempt there, and he watched Roger's face carefully for a reaction. If he was going to offer, why not offer as well?
"Ah, trust me I know how that goes with staining the wood. Except it just sounds a little more different with your case and all."
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Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 8:10 pm
Roger could only laugh. A man who kissed him on the hand was now offering to take his shirt off? He hoped that Nic wasn't edging toward something more sensual, because he wasn't sure they should any more.
"Are you asking me to remove my shirt?" he asked. He had to make sure. Either way, he slid his thumb between the buttons of his shirt.
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Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 8:32 pm
"I'm saying you can if you want to. And if it makes you more comfortable I can as well." Nicholas shrugged, smiling again at him. "It's up to you."
Ah he was being stupid, foolish, and blunt even. It didn't matter all that much, he supposed. He could blame it on the alcohol later. But whatever Roger wanted, well. He had no room to complain.
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Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 8:36 pm
Roger narrowed his eyes. Jacket gone, cravat gone, he was only a man in a shirt and pants. A brow arched up and he undid his buttons, slowly slipping them from the holes, one by one, watching Nic.
If he liked it, maybe he'd continue. He was shirtless around strangers often enough. If he was just being silly, however, he wasn't quite willing to embarrass himself. As it was, he stopped at his waist, still holding his shirt together.
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Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2013 5:45 pm
It wasn't helping that he was watching those hands like a hawk, as much as he wasn't trying to. Hell, this was perhaps one of his only chances to actually watch. It was safe here, he could eye him if he wanted to.
Well, he'd be lying if he said he didn't want to. It was getting harder to keep from letting that sly smile creep back onto his lips, and eventually he just gave up, glancing up at Roger questioningly. Was he going to just leave his shirt like that?
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Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2013 5:50 pm
Nic's gaze was obvious, and Roger couldn't help but smile. So he was enjoying it after all? Really, he felt a little filthy. It took more than a request to get his clothes off generally, but it had been so long since his last endeavor into intimacy. No matter what he and Nic really were, he could use the boost to his ego, and he would enjoy every interaction they had. They could discover, explore, and he didn't imagine either of them would find it particularly against morality, or have the expectation for more. He felt like a teenager again, and it was good. He imagined that Nic felt the same way, from that goofy grin on his face.
Roger made eye contact and rose to stand, pulling his shirt open slowly and then dropping it down off his shoulders, and behind him off his arms. The only sound was the crackling of the fire and the soft shifting of fabric.
There he stood, bared from the waist up, a wall of muscle with near-imperceptible scars. He just watched, waiting to see what Nic would do.
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