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 Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 8:24 pm
Nearly a month into living within Lycander, and Requiem had no idea what on earth he was doing.
He was standing in front of the full-length mirror attached to the back of his bedroom door, staring dismally at his reflection. Dark skin the color of strong tea, generously dashed with milk, cheeks that tended to flush too easily, pale hair that resembled raw wheat mixed with lavender and was slightly too long...and wide, luminous golden eyes that were, at the moment, narrowed slightly in his frustration. In one hand he held a sleek silver tie, which was dangling limply from his fingers, and in the other a black suit jacket.
Requiem had never worn anything so fancy in his life. Even on graduation, he had been wearing his Makai Academy uniform, and growing up he had not taken enough piano lessons to merit a recital (not that his instructors would have allowed him too anyway, once they had learned of his race). But this was a special occasion: he and Lycander were going out to dinner together.
It was to be a celebration - admittedly, a slightly belated one. Lycander had insisted they go out to dinner to celebrate Requiem's graduating, becoming a witch, and managing to move successfully out of his dorm and into a "proper apartment for living," as the redhead had put it cheerfully. Though they had both had much free time, neither one had actually remembered until late one evening when Lycander had suddenly sat bolt upright, slapped a hand to his forehead, then proclaimed they were going out for a nice, elegant meal the next evening.
Requiem, to his credit, had not said no. In fact, he was rather looking forward to it - at least until he learned that he could not wear his normal lounge wear to a nice, upscale restaurant. But he did not want to disappoint Lycander, either by backing out of dinner, or dressing too casually, so on his own he had managed to surreptitiously buy himself a new outfit without his roommate knowing.
So here he stood with five minutes to go until they were supposed to leave, trying to figure out how to tie a tie. With some difficulty and a little improvising, he managed to get it right (though it was slightly crooked), then pulled the black jacket over. Beneath it, he was wearing a pristine white silk dress shirt, a pair of sleek black trousers that matched the jacket, and a pair of shiny black shoes that clicked when he walked. The silver tie went perfectly, a nice contrast between dark and light.
Requiem scrutinized himself in the mirror again, feeling slightly fidgety. He tugged nervously at the tie, wondering what Lycander would say when he saw him in it, since he doubted his friend had seen him in anything other than jeans and a teeshirt, or his pajamas, none of which were particularly impressive.
But why do I care so much what he thinks? Requiem's mind whispered. He flushed a bit, arguing back with himself. Because he's a good friend and he's your roommate. You want to look nice because you don't want to embarrass him.
It was easy to reason out his anxiety, but the pale red did not disappear from Requiem's cheeks. Since that night when Lycander had first discovered Requiem's secret episodes, something had...shifted between them.
Except Requiem had not the slightest clue what it was or what it meant. All he knew was that the atmosphere had been just slightly different. And he could still remember that odd tingling sensation when Lycander's warm hand had touched his...
Requiem shook himself out of his own thoughts, straightening his shoulders in a vain attempt at keeping himself standing properly. Then, with a vaguely nervous sigh, he cautiously opened the door to his room, stepping out into the hallway and heading towards the living room, where he knew Lycander was waiting. He paused at the corner, his stomach fluttering nervously, then poked his head around the wall, very slowly followed by the rest of his body.
"Um," he said hesitantly, shifting awkwardly from one foot to the other. "Um...I'm...ready now...I-I think..."
Requiem trailed off, feeling quite stupid.
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:11 pm
He still could not believe he had completely forgotten about Requiem's graduation from witchling to witch status. How could he forget?! It had just come to him, quite suddenly and out of the blue. He vaguely remembered something triggering the memory of it, but for the life of him, the redhead could not remember what it had been. Still, thankfully he HAD remembered. And thus they were going to remedy that small lapse. By going out to dinner. Something he had insisted on. Or if you wanted the real simple version: he had proclaimed they were going to dinner and told Requiem he couldn't say no.
Requiem. The redhead paused as he was adding accessories to his outfit (gold ones of course). There was definitely something there. He knew it. Could feel it. And avoided it for the most part. Lycander had a strong suspicion on what he felt now, but he did not dare voice it or even think out. For many reasons. Most being that he was arguing he was wrong and just felt giddy at living with another person after being alone for two years. And he was beginning to believe it, the more the told himself that was it. Like he was reassuring himself now.
Glancing at his shirtsleeve, he tugged it down a little and smiled. Tonight he was dressing up a little. Or as much more dressed up as he could get. He'd pulled out one of his more formal looking Asian themed tops made from a silky material that was soft against his skin. It's colors ranged from reds, to oranges with a few gold trimmings woven through the patterns of a dragon, and back to dark reds. The bottom of the shirt was longer on one side of the front, with braided fabric falling to his thigh and a small medallion tied off at the end. The pants he had chosen were dark and loose through the legs. Around his waist just under the shirt was one of his sashes, deep gold in color. It hung at the opposite side of the medallion. Since the sleeves of the shirt were long, he'd not bothered to put any of the bracelets or bracers on. Instead he settled with a couple necklaces that went well with the outfit. One in gold and the other crimson. For his feet, simple shiny formal black dress shoes. Though...they weren't quite as shiny as brand new ones would be.
There. Lycander felt he looked good enough to go out with Requiem. Err, on a dinner date. No wait. Not date. Oh crap. Why was he calling it a date? It wasn't a date! Was it? Couldn't you call a dinner with a best friend a dinner date? Did that sound wrong? Okay why was he thinking so hard on this?
Giving himself a mental slap, Lycander went to wait for Requiem to finish getting ready after rechecking to make sure he had wallet and keys shoved into his pockets. Check and check. Now he just needed his roommate...who was taking longer then he expected. Curious. Was Requiem that nervous about going out? Lycander bet that was it. And he also decided that if he wasn't out in five minutes, he'd go drag him out of his room.
Eyes on the clock that was strategically placed so you could see it pretty much everywhere except from the kitchen and rooms, Lycander was counting down the remaining seconds before he went barging in. With only a few seconds to spare, he heard that gentle voice speak from behind him, hesitant as usual. Twirling around to give him a cheery grin, Lycander felt his breath catch and emerald eyes widen slowly. Since the day he had met Requiem, he had not ever seen the other in anything nicer than student uniforms or jeans and shirts. But this...the redhead slowly appraised this Requiem. The black of the jacket made his golden eyes seem like they held a faint glow. The combination of black and white seemed to set off his complexion nicely and made the lovely pale shade of his hair stand out that much more. Of course he noticed the silver tie was slightly off and not quite done right. But for some reason, that fit Requiem.
Lycander just stared for a good solid minute or two before he managed to find his voice. "You look...enchantingly sinful." He informed his roommate in his cheerful tones. Yet there seemed to be a little more than just the cheer in it. Something undefinable. But definitely not bad. "I think we are quite ready to head out to dinner now." On their not-date.
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:34 pm
The first thing Requiem thought when he saw Lycander sitting on the couch, one leg thrown in a casually elegant manner over the other, was that he, Requiem, was either severely under-dressed, or severely overdressed. Which exactly it was, he could not exactly tell, but there was just something about Lycander Taimborlin that oozed not just confidence, but an aura of self-awareness, elegance, and the smooth tones of ease about him that Requiem could not ever hope to have. Everything about him was very distinctly Lycander, from the glossy scarlet hair that fell in messy waves about his face, to the sweeping red, orange, and gold outfit, to the tips of his black shoes, nearly identical to Requiem's. He looked...well, Requiem wasn't entirely sure, but whatever it was rendered him momentarily speechless, his mouth opening and closing uncertainly as he tried to find proper words to speak. Except before he could say anything at all, Lycander spoke first.
"You look...enchantingly sinful."
Requiem's face instantly flamed crimson, only this time his trademark blush was now accompanied by a hot, swooping sensation in the pit of his stomach that made him feel slightly dizzy. He blinked rapidly, taking an automatic step back as his mind worked frantically to try and take in just what his friend had said.
"I - what?"
The words were still not coming out properly. Requiem abruptly snapped his mouth shut, lips pressed together, his expression one of panic, confusion, and something else. He wanted to run now, and he hastily backtracked, trying to think of something polite to say to refuse, to decline, to be anywhere than where he was now. That odd tingling sensation he had felt before with Lycander had returned full force now, spreading throughout his body.
Since his feet were not working in tandem with his mind, nor the rest of his body, Requiem promptly backed into the wall, rather than go around the corner and hasten to his room. He fiddled nervously with his tie, anxiously smoothing down the front of his jacket and determinedly not looking up at Lycander, his face burning with heat.
What is this? It is only Lycander, after all; my...my best friend, if I am allowed to call him that. My roommate, with whom I have shared more with than any other person, my parents included. He is a good friend, someone who trusts me - the very first person outside of Mum and Dad to do so - and someone who makes the room just a little bit brighter when he's in it.
Where had that last thought come from? Requiem hastily shoved it aside, though his heart was hammering fast inside of his chest. "No," he said, then quickly amended "I mean, yes! I mean, er..."
He trailed off, the feeling of stupidity growing. His fingers tugged more on his crooked tie in a vain attempt at distracting himself that was clearly not working.
"I mean," Requiem said, in a voice he was trying carefully to make sound at least relatively normal. "I...I am ready to go when you are."
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:03 pm
Emerald eyes blinked slowly as the redhead couldn't help but take in this new look on Requiem. The only thing that was lacking was confidence. Which almost made a frown appear, except he was too busy smiling slowly instead of frowning. Well, if Requiem lacked confidence, he'd just have to make up for it by having enough for the both of them. That shouldn't be too hard for him to accomplish, right? Then again, Lycander could feel the very beginnings of warmth dusting his own cheeks the longer he stared at Requiem and saw that crimson color all but rocket cross his face. He honestly couldn't remember any other person he could get such delightful reactions out of. Which made him wonder what other sorts of ways he could pull that blush out of him...
"I - what?"
....oh shite. Had he said that one out loud? This time, Lycander, of all people blushed. Enchantingly sinful? Oh he'd been thinking that alright. He just hadn't meant for that version to come out. Something more appropriate, like 'handsome', or 'fantastic' was what he'd meant to say. Don't lie. You totally meant it and you know it. Umm....distraction! No wait, cover! Pull foot out of mouth.
"Handsome, charming, fantastic. They just didn't seem like grand enough words. I've not seen you dressed up so nicely. Absolutely marvelous!" Not helping. "The black draws out your eyes, I must say." And the crimson stain to his cheeks. Freaking adorable. Why was he thinking it was adorable? "Did you always have that? I swear I don't remember you having something like this before..." What did he know? Requiem always wore what he was most comfortable in. Just as the redhead wore what he liked.
And there goes the hesitant and shy side, he thought with more amusement than he really should have had right now. One expressive eyebrow quirked up at the 'No'. Oh? So he wasn't ready then? Nope. He wasn't sure what he meant. The redhead chuckled softly. Good thing there was a wall behind the Majin to block his way. Lycander wasn't letting him escape. Extracting himself gracefully from the couch, he walked towards Requiem with a teasing smile. "No? Yes? Come now! It's only dinner!" He batted the other's hands away from the tie. "Leave it. Looks fine. And we don't need you accidentally choking yourself or something." Throwing an arm around Requiem's shoulders, Lycander maneuvered him away from the wall and towards the door. "Perfect. I'm ready to leave now. And you look ready and excellent. Shall we go then?" The redhead only removed his arm to open the door and gesture for Requiem to proceed him.
"Y'know, mom and dad say this place is fantastic for it's service and food. Said they thought it would be perfect place for a celebration on graduating." Taking some pity on his roommate, Lycander attempted to try small talk that was hopefully more comfortable to talk about. Not that he wouldn't bring talk right back around to how dashing the Majin looked right now if small talk failed "Ever heard of the place before?".
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:19 pm
The more Lycander spoke, the more prominent the flush on Requiem's face became, and it soon became quite apparent that it was now almost permanently scarlet. Handsome, charming, fantastic...marvelous...each word seared into Requiem, making his chest feel abnormally tight, his heart clattering so noisily against his ribcage he was quite certain that the young man sitting across from him could hear it easily. Requiem had never before felt so...on display, so incredibly vulnerable and shown off, and yet...and yet it was not quite like that. Lycander, though making him feel extraordinarily flustered, was also making a pleasant, gentle warmth course through Requiem like a soothing water. It was the same voice that made him feel so comfortable, so at ease with who he was, despite the fact that no one else either cared nor wanted to care, what Requiem was truly like. But Lycander had always seen past that, despite Requiem's beliefs that no one ever would.
Slowly, very slowly, Requiem felt his heart slow. Something in his friend's voice was relaxing him, making him feel at ease with himself, despite the overdressed outfit he was wearing.
"No," he answered, then realized it was a little belated and added, somewhat hastily "I mean, er...I...I just got it a few days ago. The suit. I...well, you said you wanted to do a nice dinner out, so I just thought..."
He trailed off, his face burning again, though his heartbeat had slowed a considerable amount. Requiem could not look up at Lycander, did not want his friend to see that, in all truthfulness, Requiem had bought the suit so as to impress Lycander in some way, though he did not know why he wanted to do that in the first place.
He felt Lycander's hands against his, pushing them away from his tie that he had been worrying, and a warm, heavy arm draped over his shoulders, surprising him, as Lycander led the both of them cheerfully out the door and down the streets of Lumena. There was that tingling sensation again...
Outside the evening air was gentle and cool, a soft breeze playing against their skin and ruffling through their hair. It was somehow soothing, and Requiem felt himself relaxing further, though his shoulders and back were now tingling oddly from having Lycander's arm across them. It did not feel unpleasant; on the contrary, it felt...nice. Warm. Like somehow it was meant to be there...
What on earth am I thinking?
The feeling of stupidity was intensifying. Requiem hastily pushed away any and all strange thoughts.
"N...no, I haven't," Requiem answered, eternally grateful to Lycander for switching the subject to something easy and cheerful to converse about. "I have not lived in Lumena long enough to know any place around, I'm afraid. My parents live in Moonfall, so they do not know the area either, otherwise they might have mentioned it to me. They love different kinds of food and eating out, after all."
They had reached their destination now, and Requiem waited for Lycander to enter first, looking over at him somewhat hesitantly.
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:57 pm
Ah, so he'd gotten the suit especially for tonight, had he? At least that was what Lycander was reading between the lines. It made those warm fuzzies inside that he kept doing his damned best to ignore flutter around some more. Requiem had wanted to dress up tonight. Probably only because, as he'd said, the redhead had pointed out that it was a higher end restaurant. Which meant classy and formal. Which, in all honesty, Lycander was positive Requiem would not be the only one dressed so formally at their destination. From what he'd heard, folks that went here tended to take advantage of the excuse to dress up. Especially with this being Lumena, home of the Royal Family.
"Well I think you did a fine job at finding the perfect suit." He smiled at his roommate and gave his shoulders an encouraging squeeze as they walked out the door and down the streets of Lumena. He felt a little put down at no longer having his arm resting along Requiem's shoulders, but he shoved that away to focus on walking and making his friend relax. Which was difficult when you thought the blushing and half stuttered sentences were cute.
Oh good subject choice! "Ah, Moonfall. My home town and where my family currently resides. It's also still probably my favorite place to walk around. So many shops, hustle and bustle of crowds, always something to do in Moonfall." He tapped his chin and glanced over at Requiem. "Come to think of it...I think I have family here in Lumena too. Like some Uncle that dad never speaks with very often. Or maybe it was on mom's side..." He should check into it, as well as why they didn't speak that much. Maybe he and Requiem could even go on an adventure to find this Uncle! Another time, Lycander. Focus on dinner tonight!
Where Requiem was hesitant, Lycander was bold and easily opened the doors and pulled Requiem along with him inside. He gave his friend a quick smile before turning that beaming smile (which could probably be used as a weapon if he was so inclined to be that sort of person) of his on the darling hostess.
"Welcome! Just the two of you this eve?"
"You are correct, ma'am. Table for two. It's quite busy in here tonight. Anything special going on?" He asked glancing around.
"I wish." The hostess, Cammie, giggled. "But I can't claim that. This is a typical crowd around here. You two are in luck, though! Just beat the evening crowd and I have a table all set up for you." Grabbing two menus and giving both boys a charming smile, she lead the way towards a booth located in the back portion of the restaurant. It was still fairly crowded back here, but Lycander liked it. He glanced back over his shoulder at Requiem, hoping he didn't mind it.
"Will this do?" Cammie placed the menus expertly on either side of the table and stepped out of the way so they could sit.
"Excellent! Thank you very much." Lycander grinned and slid into his seat, glancing around at everything before focusing on the young man across from him. "This is nice. Do you like it?" The redhead wouldn't say it out loud, but it was important to him to know that Requiem was comfortable here. The last thing Lycander wanted was to have a celebratory dinner that was uncomfortable for the one the celebration was for!
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Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 8:14 am
Admitting that he'd gotten the outfit just for tonight had been a bad move on Requiem's part, because it also meant admitting that, for reasons that were at the moment unknown to Requiem, he cared enough about what Lycander thought to put a great deal of effort into what he chose to wear tonight. He hadn't the faintest clue as to why, but the fact that his friend had seemed so taken with it made Requiem feel absurdly warm and fluttery inside.
What is this feeling?
"Your family lives in Moonfall too?" he said, eternally grateful that they had a normal conversation topic to talk of. His cheeks still burned a bright red, but at least he could settle down a bit, and his shoulders relaxed, some of the tension from earlier melting away. "I didn't really spend a lot of time outdoors, unfortunately, but the little I did see I rather liked. It was always so busy."
They spoke of their hometown for the duration of the walk, which was both satisfying and relaxing, and when they reached the place they were to eat, Lycander went first, smiling as he pulled Requiem after him.
Such a dazzling smile, Requiem thought, slightly dazed by the bright light that was his roommate. It's quite...
But Requiem could not finish his thought, because the waitress was leading them down a row of crowded, laughing tables to a small booth in the back. He stumbled a bit, his sleek black shoes tripping on the luxurious red and gold carpet, but managed to keep from falling, reaching out a hand to grip the back of Lycander's sash so as to not lose him. The place was beautiful, its walls a dark scarlet with gold accents, and the whole room seemed to glow with it, the candles on the tables, the elegant, twisted chandeliers that hung from the low ceiling. The walls had tiny gold threads running in arc shapes throughout it, glittering faintly in the warm light.
"It's...beautiful," Requiem said as he slid into the booth, his eyes roaming around the enchanting room. "It's like we're sitting right in the middle of a candle. I've never...never been anywhere like this before."
And for the first time that night, Requiem smiled up at Lycander, the fire from the candle flames dancing in his eyes. His face was flushed warm with pleasure and happiness as he slid the menu towards him, eyes are starting to widen at the wide range of selections he would be free to choose from. Golden eyes glittering, he lifted them to meet Lycander's again, feeling that fluttering sensation low in his stomach again.
"Thank you," he said, before burying his face into his menu again.
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Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 4:51 pm
"That they do. Fitting town for such social people as my family is. And before you ask, yes. My ability to chatter a persons ear of is a trait passed down through my family. Though it's usually the girls." He snickered and winked at Requiem. "No? I was outdoors quite a bit. Not that this would probably surprise anyone." He was always outdoors or somewhere there were people to talk with. It was just in his nature.
He barely noticed the stumble behind him from Requiem, but he DID notice when his sash was grabbed. Having his back to his roommate allowed for a rare and sinful smile to grace his lips before it quickly disappeared under the cheery one he normally wore. Thankfully he was able to distract himself from thoughts he would not think about because they would not happen and why was he thinking this? It didn't help either that there were a lot of couples around the tables they passed. His emerald gaze darted around and took in the laughing faces, good food being enjoyed, people batting at one another over some joke. Perfect type of atmosphere, Lycander thought. Even the decor was pleasant and he found several things he kept eying. Especially the gold 'things'. The dark crimson walls accented in gold... Maybe he should rethink his own room? The redhead snorted in amusement.
Lycander agreed with Requiem. It was beautiful in here. "A candle. That is a good way to put it. The warm and inviting colors, welcoming atmosphere, friendly servers..." Oh yes. He was enjoying it very much here. And the bright glint to his eyes and ever present smile relayed this as he watched the smile Requiem directed his way. The redhead swore his heart did not just skip a few beats from receiving that smile. And those golden eyes!
I'm glad he's enjoying it here. The thought was true and innocent enough. Though his stomach tightened a fraction at seeing such happiness from the Majin. He deserves it. That soft smile spread across his lips in response to the 'thank you'. "You're very welcome." Lycander replied in a quieter voice as he opened his own menu to look over it's contents. And curses there were several delicious choices! How was he supposed to pick just one? Oh there was crab! But Mandarin chicken sounded equally good. Still...crab! Hmm...decisions decisions.
"See anything appealing?" He asked his roommate lightly. Maybe he should start by figuring out a drink first. Their server was bound to be coming over anytime now for drink orders, right? Ah crap! There were a few drinks that sounded marvelous. Like the pineapple mango splash. So many appetizing things! He was glad that his parents had recommended this place.
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Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 6:54 pm
Sitting here with Lycander, the two of them ensconced away in their own booth, Requiem felt somehow separate from the rest of the restaurant. However, it was not in a bad way; on the contrary, it felt rather...pleasant. Safe. That was the perfect word for how he felt with Lycander - safe. Something about the other young man created a warm haven around Requiem that allowed him to simply...be himself, without having to worry about what anyone else thought. Lycander did not judge, did not press him for information, and did not make him feel unwelcome in the slightest. In fact...Requiem had never felt more...distinctly human than he ever had before. He could not accurately express how his friend made him feel, not yet at least, but there was nothing negative about it.
Why was that, though? It was so very strange, that out of every person Requiem had ever met before, the one person to make him feel this way was a flirtatious, mile-a-minute, overly cheerful, and slightly ridiculous young man who seemed to always have a subject to talk about, whether it was what to hang on the walls in the kitchen, or what he wanted to do the next day. The roguish laugh that sounded of bells and made the room more cheerful, the impish smile that seemed to cheer Requiem up whenever he didn't even want to be cheered up...
Why do I feel this way? The thought kept coming back into his head, over and over, repeating itself in a steady, confused beat. What is this feeling?
"There's so much to choose from," Requiem said, a little flustered as he looked up at Lycander, his roommate's face bathed in the golden light from the candle and looking nearly ethereal. "It's..."
Overwhelming, he wanted to finish, but instead he just smiled, and went back to searching the menu. When the server arrived a few moments later, Requiem managed to scrape his thoughts together enough to order a Tropical Sunrise (a drink comprised of several different fruits and juices), as well as a simple chicken dish with rice. He did not want to go too overboard, but his mind kept running around that one single thought still.
What is this feeling..?
Words were still not quite enough to express his gratitude towards Lycander. Requiem's expression was unreadable as he looked at his friend, feeling his heart thumping rhythmically against his ribcage. Lycander's hand was still lying on the table, across from Requiem's, and slowly - very slowly and hesitantly, his hand trembling slightly, Requiem's fingers brushed against Lycander's, then carefully slid his through the other's, squeezing them tightly in what he hoped showed was a gesture of gratitude, since he felt like what he was about to say wouldn't be enough.
"Thank you," he said quietly, so quietly it was barely audible above the din of the patrons in the restaurant. His eyes held his friend's steadily, and for once he was not flustered. "...for everything. I mean, you...you're my first friend, and you didn't care about what I was - what I am, even though you're a human. You didn't care about any of that, you treated me as an equal, which is the first time I've ever felt that way. You let me live with you, without fear of anything, or if you were, you didn't show it. You take me out to dinner, just to celebrate something about me, not about anyone else, but just me."
Requiem's voice grew even more quiet, his expression impassive. "You...brought me my music," he said softly. "No one's ever done that for me before. I mean," he amended himself. "It's not that I've ever let anyone close during one of my episodes before, but...but still,"
His fingers tightened subconsciously with Lycander's. "You're...you're different," he said quietly. "...and I need that."
Their food came, and Requiem was suddenly grateful for the interruption, his face burning with heat as the reality of what he had just said slammed into him abruptly.
Embarrassing! What on earth did I just say?! He grabbed his fork, stabbing a piece of chicken and studiously not looking up at his friend.
But his fingers stayed linked with Lycander's.
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Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 8:35 pm
Hrrrrrng. Alright, alright. He knew what he wanted no- Oh that sounds good too.... Lycander shook his head slightly. Ah screw it! He was going with his first choice. And that drink...what was it called? The redhead flipped back through the menu to find the drinks as their server arrived. Lycander heard Requiem place his order and....oh there it was! Splendid. And just in time too. He flashed their server a smile and ordered a Pineapple Dream to drink and a Crab Linguini dish to eat. Crab just sounded good. As did half the menu.
The redhead handed his menu over with an easy curl of his lips before his gaze slowly took in everything around them again. He really did admire the decorations and dimmer lighting within the restaurant. And the crowd. Of course he loved the crowd of all the people seated at tables around them. His fingers tapped gently against the tabletop as he watched one of the other servers carry over something delicious looking to another table. That definitely was not a dinner dish. Dessert! Lycander made a mental note to totally check out the dessert menu after dinner. Maybe they would have cake. He'd been craving his favorite cake recently.
The brushing of fingers against his hand immediately caught his attention. He didn't look right away at his roommate, getting control of his facial expression. But dammit, a hot zap raced through his system at that touch. That turned into more than just a brush of fingers. Requiem linked their fingers and squeezed. This is a not-date. A not-date! Don't take it the wrong way. Wait...what's the wrong way in this situation? Great. Now he confused himself again. Using that confusion to his advantage, Lycander turned cheerfully towards Requiem. His first words gained a small rise of an eyebrow. Another thank you? He kept Requiem's gaze easily as he listened. Everything he was saying, it made that spot somewhere inside of him squeeze. Had things really been that hellish and dull before he came around? That was...Lycander couldn't find a way to say how that made him feel.
Words wouldn't come to him. The talk a mile a minute chatterbox and he could not find a single word to say in return. He stared at Requiem, many emotions flickering through the redhead. He tried to mask most of them with the soft, if a little blank, look he currently was giving his friend. Absently, his thumb rubbed slow soothing circles along Requiem's hand while the Majin spoke. Even as their food arrived, Lycander still had yet to say anything. What was he supposed to say? There were too many things racing about in his mind. Half of them he did his best to ignore.
So he used food as an excuse not to answer yet while he mulled over Requiem's words. Except, he didn't actually take a bite of his food. The redhead just stared at it, aware that even as his friend used his meal as a distraction, their fingers were still linked. And what really stumped him, was that it felt right. And he liked it. Very much.
"I'm glad." He finally spoke softly, gaze still down on his food as he toyed with it, using his fork to push pieces around. "I'm glad that you need me. That I could be there for you." Glancing up, Lycander gave that soft smile that could increase the right person's heart rate. And maybe there was a little more in his gaze than he meant to let out. Which he hid by looking down at his food and scooping up a small bite to taste. It was just as good as it had sounded! And an absolutely delicious distraction.
Lycander decided, while he took another bite of his meal, that unless Requiem chose to pull his hand away, the redhead would keep his fingers linked with his friends.
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Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 9:06 pm
The warm, tingling sensation he was beginning to associate with any sort of connection to Lycander had come back again, spreading from their linked fingers, up Requiem's arm and encompassing his entire body. His stomach was fluttering nervously, and he felt as if his palm were sweating (it probably was). Not only that, trying to eat one handed was relatively tricky.
But for some reason, Requiem did not want to let go of Lycander's hand. He had thought that touching someone else - especially being what he was - that it would feel awkward, that either he or the other person would leap back immediately and there would be that uncomfortable moment when both persons realize that they had made a mistake. But Requiem did not feel any of those things. On the contrary, he felt...at ease. Lycander's fingers, slightly larger than his, were very warm, interlaced gently with his own, and the thumb that rubbed absently against his skin was gentle and soothing.
It felt...normal. Perfectly, completely normal.
Is it, though? Requiem wondered, his mind a mass of confusion, pleasure, and frustration that he did not know, could not figure out what it was he was feeling. Is it normal to feel this comfortable around someone? For me to feel this safe, holding Lycander's hand like this? Because that's what I feel. Safe and secure and...happy.
...happy..?
He did not really know what being happy meant. His music was the closest thing that he knew to that sort of feeling, and being with Lycander...was very similar to that feeling. In fact, it was...something more than that.
...but what..?
"I think..." Requiem said, somewhat hesitantly. "I think...it would be nice if..."
But he trailed of, the thought half finished, and took another bite, changing the subject. After that, the conversation flowed easily, though Requiem was still a little bemused. Lycander did not move his hand away, and neither did Requiem, unwilling to break the connection. A part of him was afraid that if he moved, something would break, and that feeling of fragile happiness would disappear. So instead he did nothing, the feeling of Lycander's hand keeping him comfortable the entire time they ate.
It was only after dessert had come and gone, and the waistband of Requiem's pants was feeling uncomfortably tight from the sheer amount of rich food he had eaten that he reluctantly let go, waiting patiently as Lycander paid, and soon they were standing outside of the restaurant again. Outside the air was balmy and cool, a slight breeze rifling their hair. Requiem's eyes moved upwards, scanning the sky as the stars began to dot the inky blackness. Quietly, without saying anything, Requiem's hand found Lycander's again and he slipped his fingers through his best friend's, linking them together. He felt immediately soothed, though his face was tinged red.
"Shall we walk back, then?" he asked, a little anxiously, though he did not exactly know why.
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Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 12:49 am
He would admit, that eating one handed was slightly difficult but not unmanageable. And he liked his hand pressed against Requiem's. No it probably was doing nothing good for that section of himself he was trying to ignore and pretend didn't exist. But he also did not plan on removing his hand from where it was comfortably resting intertwined with Requiem's. For tonight, he could get away with small things like this so long as his friend didn't seem inclined to stop it.
Glancing up when he heard Requiem start to say something, Lycander gave him his attention as he chewed his current bite of food. However his friend didn't finish whatever he'd planned on saying and once again they fell into the silence of eating. Which was broken by small pleasant talk.
The more rational part of the redhead's mind kept urging him to pull his hand away and stop this. What would it do to their relationship? Would it be awkward once they got back to their apartment? Was Requiem even feeling the same things he was? Lycander couldn't recall ever telling his roommate anything personal about himself. Not that there WAS anything personal. He was just so used to being who he was that it never crosses his mind how living with a male roommate might make him feel. Hadn't, in fact, crossed his mind until just recently.
But do I want this? Yes. He did. Even as he admitted it to himself he knew he couldn't take it back. It was the truth.
And he was going to focus on his crab linguini now. Not the warmth between their palms, how little tingles raced up along his arm, nor the fact that Requiem had made zero effort to pull his hand away.
Well, at least not until after dessert (homg caaaake!) when he needed both hands to pay for their dinner. He made sure to leave a generous tip for their server before slipping out of his seat and exiting the restaurant with Requiem. Once outside, he stretched and made a mental note to thank his parents again for this idea. They had been on the ball with this one! And while he was at it, he was totally getting mom to bake him that German Chocolate Cake.
Thoughts of cake flitted out the window as his hand was claimed once again. Lycander didn't say anything and let his fingers easily link with Requiem's. Emerald eyes flickered sideways to catch the tint of red. He couldn't help the smile that spread along his lips. Nor did he miss the way his friends shoulders relaxed and how he seemed at ease. If I can bring him such serenity, I'll give it to him willingly. He thought to himself, grinning at Requiem. "Not unless you have something else you want to do while we are out. Otherwise, heading back sounds fine to me. It's nice out. And the stars are beginning to shine brightly." Like the happy feelings inside of him.
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Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 6:36 am
"We can just head back," Requiem said, but he wanted to take his time, enjoy the cool night air that teased the strands of his and Lycander's hair, brushed against their skin.
How very easy it was to slide his hand into Lycander's, entwining their fingers together. Such a small gesture, such a simple one that took surprisingly little effort on Requiem's part, though he had never before been so physically affectionate with anyone in his life. His parents, perhaps, but never with another person, human or otherwise. And yet...it felt so natural, walking back to their shared apartment, hand in hand.
But is it normal to hold hands with another boy? Requiem thought uneasily, his eyes flickering sideways to glance at Lycander. He did not know how things worked, did not understand what was considered "normal," since he had never been, and never would be, "normal." I don't know if it is. I mean, I'm eighteen. Lycander's a bit older. We're adults, and we can do what we want. But...holding hands with another boy...? Is it normal?
...does it matter whether it is or not?
He did not know the answer, nor did he know what to make of the way his stomach fluttered and twisted, the way his fingers were tingling against his best friend's, making him feel warm and happy. All he knew was that he did not want to let go; not if holding Lycander's hand meant feeling more at home and more comfortable than he ever had before in his life.
What is this feeling?
They walked along in silence for a few moments, the only sounds that of their shoes clicking against the cobblestone streets. After a moment, Requiem said "You know...what I said before, about um...about how I needed you..?"
His heart was beating very fast, and his cheeks flushed brightly in the darkness, slowing to a stop in the shade of a few trees that lined the street their apartment was on. It was so embarrassing, repeating what he had said, and yet he felt as if he had to say everything, otherwise he would burst. Requiem turned to face Lycander, his hand gripping the other's so tightly it was probably a little painful. His roommate's face was bathed in moonlight, the roguish mop of sleek red hair framing his face, emerald eyes glinting. And that smile...
You're brighter than those stars, Lycander, Requiem thought.
It all came spilling out.
"I think I really do n-need you in some way, though I don't know what way, except that you make me feel really good. I don't know how that works, but whenever I'm around you I just get this warm feeling inside, and my chest feels tight, and sometimes I just feel like I'm going to explode, except when you touch me I just...c-calm down, sort of, and I don't know why, but holding your hand makes me relaxed, even though it gives me this weird tingling sensation and makes my stomach feel all funny, and it just makes me want to move closer to you, but that doesn't make any sense because only my music calms me down, and you're, um, another guy and I know that's weird, but I like holding your hand, and I just...don't know what to do with myself sometimes around you, because you make me feel nervous and happy and confused all at the same time, and I've never felt this way about anyone before, but I just wanted to say t-that if you'll, um, let me, I want to keep holding your hand, because I think I...I mean, I don't know, but um...I like it."
There was a brief moment of silence that followed this sudden rush of words; Requiem's lips were slightly parted, his cheeks a brightly flushed scarlet as he tried to get air back into his lungs, his stomach now doing somersaults. He had not meant to say so much, but it had all just come bursting out of him, and now that he had said it, he realized that everything was true. He did want to keep holding Lycander's hand.
Why, though? came the small voice in his head. Why do you want to keep holding it?
The answer to that was still a little unknown, but even as he was attempting to sort through his tangled mess of feelings, Requiem's fingers had found Lycander's other hand; so they stood in the shadows, both hands linked with the other's. They were standing very close now, half hidden in the trees' shadows, and Requiem bit his lip, the uneasiness swooping back in as he slowly lifted his gaze, searching Lycander's beautiful emerald eyes for the response he knew had to come eventually.
What will he say? Will he be disgusted? Upset? Angry? Will he tell me to let go of this warmth in my hand..?
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Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 6:05 pm
The evening air should have helped to clear his head a little. And it was, just not in the way he had hoped for. The more relaxed he became as they walked, the more he realized just how much he liked this. And wanted it. Badly wanted it. The redhead didn't know how he had missed the earlier signs of what some of his feelings meant. But he was aware of them now. Oh curses was he aware of them now. And terrified to act on them.
Which was why he never had acted on those feelings and let Requiem get away with holding his hand like so. Lycander couldn't bring himself to pull his hand away and shove it in a pocket. The look he knew he would see on his friends face was enough to keep him from being the cause of it. The redhead knew his friend was shy and was privately gleeful at him having taken this much initiative in the first place. Still...how did Requiem feel about it? Was this just something he unconsciously did? Or was doing? Was he aware of it? Lycander was fairly confident that the Majin didn't know how it was making him feel. For starters, he'd never mentioned before that he was gay. Never had seen a reason to. He was who he was and being gay was just part of the Lycander everyone knew.
Those emerald eyes glanced over when the gentle voice he very much loved to hear spoke up. He waited a few beats, to see if Requiem would continue what he was saying right away or not before adding in a quiet voice, "Yes....?" Nothing beyond that though. Lycander wanted to give his friend the chance to say what he wanted. He was not, however, expecting what occurred.
They slowed to a stop, their apartment not far, and Lycander found himself staring straight into those golden eyes. He felt slight pain from how tightly his hand was being held, but it surprisingly wasn't as uncomfortable as one would think it sounded. It only helped to root him to the spot and have an anchor that told him this was real. Not some trick of the moonlight as she watched over them. As Requiem finally spoke, the redhead felt the smile slowly recede from his lips to be replaced by shock. Was...was he really hearing all of this? D-Did Requiem truly mean his words? Of course he does, you fool! He's never lied. And the sincerity of his words was painfully clear on his face. That face...
Hooded emerald eyes regarded Requiem quietly, moonlight making them brighter than usual. There was the answer he'd been searching for and it made everything inside the witch tighten almost painfully. He just wanted to let all those feelings burst out. The look he gave Requiem now was different but still held everything that was the redhead in it. He curled both hands tightly around Requiem's as they were both being held now. Lycander didn't speak until those golden eyes he so loved met his own gaze. Then in a soft voice, he spoke.
"You are quite unlike anyone I have ever met. And I've met all kinds of people. Sweet, calm and quiet. Always trying to go about life without drawing much attention to yourself. Or trying to impress me." The smile he gave was a special one. "I am...very glad to have met you. And so happy to have you as my roommate and friend." His voice got softer, and deeper as she spoke. Already close, Lycander tugged them a few more inches together. He did not know or linger on what possessed him to act. Only that it was spurred on by the feelings making him feel so...anxious now.
Requiem's face was already tilted up towards him. It was simple to slowly lean down closer...closer... his lips brushed against Requiem's in a feather light touch. Hesitant. Afraid to go too far and scare off his friend. The redhead's kiss was sweet and gentle. Nothing like the energetic bravado he typically showed in everything else he did.
Please don't let this have been a mistake. I'd never forgive myself. But, he couldn't help it. Being there, with Requiem so close and so adorably flustered and shy and, well, 'Requiem'. Maybe he'd find a way to excuse this behavior...after having just this one night to steal a kiss. Just this one night.
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Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 9:02 pm
Requiem was more than a little embarrassed that he had just spilled every single little detail about the cacophony of feelings and emotions twisting inside of him, especially since it had all come out in one big rush. He felt as if he it had all come out in one breath too, since his chest was rather tighter than usual, and his breathing was coming out rather haggard. It was almost as if he'd run a mile in the cold, but instead he'd just dumped all of his inner angst onto his friend.
...just a friend..? came a small, quiet little thought. Requiem's lips pressed together uncertainly, his lashes flickering slightly as he slanted an anxious gaze up at Lycander's emerald eyes. They were dancing with the light of the moon and the yellowish light from the lamppost a few feet away. Such bright eyes...
"I never saw a need to impress you because you never saw a need to scorn me," Requiem said quietly, his heart hammering against his chest. There was that smile again; the smile that somehow, absurdly, he felt was only for his eyes alone. It was strange to see it, but at the same time, more comforting than anything else before.
For a few seconds it was silent. Lycander's fingers gripped his, drawing him closer, close enough that they were only a few inches apart and Requiem could see the moonlight on his roommate's eyelashes. There was an oddly serious expression on Lycander's face; he was leaning towards him slowly, and confusion flitted across Requiem's expression. It turned to surprise rapidly, however, when he realized just what Lycander was doing, except he was not prepared for it anyway. His small gasp was silenced by the kiss, lost against Lycander's lips, which were as light and brief as the brush of a butterfly's wings.
Requiem's face had never been more scarlet. He stared up at Lycander, his expression registering shock, confusion, anxiety, and several other things that seemed to curl within his mind. His stomach was fluttering madly, and the tingling sensation was spreading throughout his body again, making him feel warm, comfortable.
It did not feel bad. In fact...it had felt...what, exactly?
He had tasted warmth and sunlight; a dash of cinnamon and spice.
"I..." said Requiem, at a loss for words. He stammered a bit, but then grew silent again, swallowing hard. Still very confused, his fingers subconsciously clenched and unclenched around Lycander's, but he did not move away. In fact...he did not want to.
I think...I...to Lycander...
The thoughts were incoherent, garbled. Uncertainly, his gaze lifted, Requiem biting his lower lip again as he looked up at his friend. Carefully, he stepped closer, tilting his head upwards. He paused for a few seconds, then hesitantly brushed his lips against Lycander's, returning the light kiss with one of his own. He had to stand up on his tiptoes to do so, but immediately that warmth spread again, all encompassing, pleasant, and safe.
When he dropped back down, he was clearly flustered, not looking up at Lycander now. "I...I, um..." he stammered out, attempting to gain some control over what he was doing. He had just kissed Lycander. His best friend, his roommate. "I..."
I think I know what this feeling is.
Requiem trailed off, looking anxious. He looked back up at Lycander.
"Lycander, I think..."
His voice died again. He struggled to say what he wanted out loud, and when he finally did it was barely more than a whisper, hardly audible.
"I think I...I might...l-like...you."
It was, quite possibly, the lamest confession Requiem had ever given. Not that he had given any in the past, but he felt unbearably stupid, and abruptly he wrenched his hands free from Lycander's, stumbling towards the stairs leading up to the apartment, desperate to get away and hide in his room away from his friend.
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