Welcome to Gaia! ::

Soft music played and echoed throughout the large condo as Nischal scampered across the wooden floors, adding an extra beat to the music in the form of the pitter patter of socked feet. The maid had already come a few days ago, so everything was generally spotless, but that didn’t mean the young bachelor hadn’t been a bit of a slob in that time. After stopping by the grocery store to pick up things for dinner, some actually decent mahi-mahi fillets, a nice assortment of veggies, some potatoes and a chocolate torte for dessert, he realized that his clothes were strewn everywhere.

Living alone had it’s perks such as not having to worry how late he came home or the overall state of the house, but it also meant that it wasn’t priority keep the place neat. So when he suddenly found himself expecting a guest over for dinner, well, There was a bit of panic to get everything where it belonged. He didn’t even realize he was that big of a slob with clothes on couches and chairs all over the large living room, on the stairwell that led up to the bedrooms, and even several pairs of socks right near the front too! A little bit of shame filled him when he realized this, and he swore to take better care of his belongings.

Once that was all done… All that was left to do was wait for Flynn to arrive. This wasn’t anything romantic, right? Just two new friends enjoying dinner together! And NOT smelling of old fish. Surely they would have a good time!

Donovan had never actually lived alone.

After Pappy died he’d been terrified of the idea of being alone. It had been convenient because of his frequent business trips not to pay for housing and, instead, crash on friend’s couches for the brief periods he was actually in town. That changed when he met Marlin and moved in with his cousin, finally having somewhere to call his own. It wasn’t living alone, exactly, but at least it was a step in the right direction. At least now he had roots and was not quite to much of a vagabond.

He went home and showered quickly, washing off the grime of the day. He got dressed in something a step up from his usual casual wear, trying to make a continued good impression. He took a cab over to the address Nischal gave him, doing a double take at the building he was dropped off in front of.

“This can’t be the right address,” he muttered, looking for the numbers on the building to check himself. It was exactly what was on the piece of paper so he shoved it in his pocket and accepted that with a small shrug.

There was a six pack of beer in his hands as he knocked. There was a smile on his face, which was usual for the pirate. He was eager to make a new friend because, honestly, he didn’t have many of them. He knew a lot of people, but he wasn’t friends with a lot of them and he knew he had something in common with the young man.

Compared to Donovan, Nischal was a mess when he opened up the door. As fancy as his apartment building and condo was, he himself looked a little sloppy. He was dressed in a pair of shorts that came to just above his knee, showing off a surprisingly smooth pair of legs, and an oversized long sleeve shirt with the collar just a little too wide, revealing a lightly scarred shoulder. He hadn’t thought about dressing in any way that was proper, not when they had literally just stepped off the pier an hour or two ago! It wasn’t as if he thought much about his appearance anyway. That was until he realized just how inadequate his dress seemed.

“Hello Flynn! So glad you didn’t get lost on your way over! Come right in, and take your shoes off right by the door.” He greeted cheerfully, spinning in his socked heel easily on the hardwood floors by the doorway to head back into the apartment after the door had opened. “Just close the door behind you. And maybe… Roll up your sleeves a bit. Don’t want you getting too dirty while we cook!”

Nervousness began to creep up Nischal’s spine as he made his way back into the kitchen. Despite as confidant as he tried to act, he really was just a big bundle of tangled wires on the inside. There was no way he was going to let that show tonight though. He’d just tuck those wires under his bed like he did with the socks he had left on the floor on Monday. Hopefully they wouldn’t return in a stinky mess after having been forgotten for too long.

“I said I was gonna get some proper fish, and I did. I figured cooking together would be more fun than just you coming over to eat, so… You up for it?”

Donovan kicked off his shoes, shrugging in a ‘when in Rome’ moment. He surveyed Nischal and didn’t give too much thought to his outfit. After all, this was just hanging out as friends, right? It was just usually his style to dress up a bit when going out. It was hard not to try to take in everything around him while remaining somewhat aloof. Or, at least not act like a yahoo. He was not used to wealth in any way, though he was actually not too badly off himself. That wealth was more metaphoric than actual as he never saw or used it. It was being invested somewhere.

“I’ll admit for a moment I wasn’t sure I had the right place.”

He started a little when he was told he was going to cook. Meat and potatoes was just about his speed.

“You want me to cook?” He let out a brief laugh. “You are severely over-estimating my culinary skills, my lad.”

Sure, he could grill a mean fish steak, but that was about it. He wasn’t fancy in his tastes or in his skills. Still, he supposed it was better than takeout. It wasn’t often he got a home cooked meal. He cracked open a beer as soon as the six pack was set down somewhere and looked to be all confidence and swagger, despite his protests and his nerves.

Nischal was genuinely surprised to hear that Flynn wasn’t quite so sure about his place, and it took a moment to register the fact that he really didn’t look like someone who could afford a place like this. Not at this age, and certainly not alone.

“Oh… Well, I suppose I don’t seem the sort to live here, huh? A little shack by the sea probably suits me more, but I like being at the center of all the hubbub going on in the city. It makes it easy to go to each end from a central starting point, you know?” At least that seemed to make some sense to himself, anyway. The mention of the lack of cooking knowledge made him laugh out loud, as did the way Flynn just took the beer out of the pack and sat it on the counter. What was he trying to do? Whatever it was, it was silly and a little endearing as he tried so hard to come off as cool.

“Don’t worry about skill or not. You have some hands, and the fridge is a little far away. You can be my gopher while we cook. Unless you’re secretly really good at sauteing veggies or something.”

His eyes made their way back to the beer on the counter, and he thought quietly to himself for a moment, readjusting the glasses that had fallen down his nose. It looked that it was rather warm… And that must be rather unpleasant.

“Do you maybe want some whiskey stones and a glass for that? I don’t drink, but cold rocks are better than ice anyday. All the cool, but none of the watery mess.” Despite not drinking himself… They were awesome to use with a glass of soda or juice. He himself had a few tossed into a glass and fizzling softly inside a pool of cream soda.

“It’s not every day I meet someone your age in a penthouse.”

Or, really, any rich person. Xander was rich, but he wasn’t comfortable with it just yet. It would take time and exposure. Now he was surrounded by opulence again and it still didn’t sit right on him. In his heart he was just a simple boy. He didn’t need a lot to make him happy or impressed but, while he was there…

“I can certainly fetch things.”

It wasn’t the most glamorous thing, but he didn’t mind doing what needed to be done to help out on dinner. The beer helped with that. He smiled at Nischal and moved to chop up some veggies while he nursed his beer. The offer of an icecube made him perk up. Though he came from Irish stock where warm beer is the normal, he didn’t mind it being cooled down for his American pallette.

“Sure!” He held out his glass. He much preferred non-diluted beer. “Aren’t you having one?”

“... It’s not too weird or anything, right? I wasn’t really thinking about it when I invited you over. It nice and everything, but what’s a home when you don’t really have anything or anyone to share it with?” Nischal was beginning to feel a little awkward about his home now. Maybe he shouldn’t really live here if he wanted to make friends. He really, truly didn’t want to intimidate everyone he ran into. He never did like showing off, but the apartment really was in a nice location, and since the only vehicle he had was the rusty beat-up RV, he rather not have to drive all over the place. It was easier to just be there.

He tried to shake it off while he retrieved two more glasses from the cabinet and then filled the bottom with a few of his pre-frozen stones. The thought of the beer wasn’t all too appealing but maybe it would make him seem a little more down to earth than just some made up poodle in an extravagant doghouse. With a quick and smooth movement he stole Donovan’s beer and poured it neatly into the glass, then doing the same with his own. After a quick sip, he put the glass down and smiled. Yup, gross like he thought, but maybe it was an acquired taste.

“Alright, thank you for all chop, choppiness. Are there any seasonings you don’t like? I tend to use standard colonial seasoning for fish, and make it decently spicy, but if there’s something you’d rather avoid, let me know.” He pulled the Mahi-mahi fillets out of the fridge then began to prep them, patting them dry before seasoning.

“Well, it’s not a standard of living I’m used to. Depending on where my assignment is I’m used to living out of a hotel room or, worse, out of a tent.”

Though he had a point about what made a home. While he cared for Marlin he couldn’t say that living with him made their apartment home. After all, their paths only rarely crossed in the time between work, dates, appointments, and other various activities. Maybe he was a little intimidated, but only because he was pretty sure that someone like him in a place like this was the same as having a bull in the china shop. He was going to mess up, or break something, and that would be that on the friendship.

He let him take his beer, a little regretfully, but felt better once it was given back. It was hard to hide the chuckle as he saw Nischal try his own beer. That was a quick sip if he ever saw one. It was a brave face he was putting on for it but Donovan knew better.

“Not your taste?”

True, the brew was an acquired taste and he’d had plenty of time and practice. It was kind of cute he was trying.

“You’ll find I’m not overly picky, Nischal. Just don’t put something like snails or caviar in front of me.”

That was part of his happy go lucky charm. He didn’t like kicking up a fuss over things he didn’t consider especially important. Food was good no matter what people did to it. There weren’t many things he could say he hated.

Nischal’s cheeks turned just a little red when it was caught in his little sip, and quickly shook his head, opting to take a much longer and deeper drawl of it in rebellion. Immediately he felt a burning rush down his throat and land heavy in his stomach, not enjoying it greatly but a little too stubborn to say no.

“It’s fine. Just takes some getting used to. Kinda burns on the way down, but it’s not bad.” He lied with a smile, taking another deep gulp before putting it down with a faked satisfied sigh. It would be rude if he just turned the drink down, so like he decided before, he’d prevail.

Sadly, with a low tolerance, he already began to feel a little off. Not enough to keep him off his feet, but he felt something. But, there was still dinner to prep so he decided to let the beer cool down further and heat up a pan, covering the the Mahi in his favorite seafood blend of spices. While that set, he reached back into his cabinet and pulled out another pan.

“Alright, my sous chef, put a little olive oil in the pan, a little salt, pepper, and a pinch of this seasoning right here and saute up the veggies. Nothing fancy, don’t want to overpower it but enough to be more flavor than JUST veggies. Hehe… Whoever’s waiting for you at home will surely be impressed with the new dish you’ll learn to make, for sure.”

Donovan was not as useless in the kitchen as he implied when it came to simple ingredients. He wasn’t going to be making chicken piccata anytime soon but that was fine with him. Sure, veggies weren’t his forte but that didn’t mean he didn’t understand the basics of sauteing and such. He seasoned the veggies well in salt and pepper and a little oregano and threw them in the pan to a pleasant sizzle. He picked up the pan by the handle and shook it back and forth easily, keeping the components in the pan moving.

“Marlin is well versed on my level of culinary skill, I assure you.” He chuckled. “My cousin is often my guinea pig.”

He started whistling a jaunty tune while he worked, taking sips of beer in between stanzas. It would take quite a bit to make him drunk, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to try a little. He’d taken a cab here and he’d take one home so it didn’t much matter what his state of intoxication was...not that a six pack had a prayer in hell of getting him falling down drunk. His liver was quite the hard worker.

When he was finished with his portion of the food he picked up a platter on the counter and spread the brightly colored veggies around it.

“Well? How did I do, Chef?”

“Oh, so you live with your cousin then? He must have a very strong stomach.” Nischal found himself gently teasing the other while he prepared the food, though honestly he was impressed at how smoothly the other seemed to work on his cooking. The melody he whistled while they worked wasn’t a bad one at all, making their standing together rather pleasant. The tune almost sounded familiar, but the couldn’t place it… Maybe an old sea chanty or even one that was made up. Either way, it was nice, and he couldn’t help but wish he could whistle along with it if he knew how to whistle.

The fish took a little bit longer than the veggies, but mostly finished up around the same time, and he went along with Donovan to plate them, not before taking another long swig from his beer, though.

“Well, they look edible, and they smell edible, but a good chef always sacrifices their own palate to test what their sous chefs have made.” Picking up a spare fork, he stabbed one of the veggies and held it up to the other, grinning a little in that teasing way he noticed he had developed in recent days. Or maybe it was the beer giving him a little more confidence.

“Sadly for you, I’m not a good chef, so here you go, I sacrifice you to the food gods juuuust in case this isn’t as delightful tasting as it looks.”

“Well, I aim to please.”

Donovan laughed a little loudly, the sound filling the kitchen. His beer was pretty much gone by now and he saw Nischal able to take full swallows without grimacing. That was good. At least, it was progress. He hardly thought the lad would become a beer aficionado overnight but that wasn’t the point of their time together that night. He was there to make a new friend.

Donovan leaned forward and took the veggie off of the fork, smirking as he chewed. He pretended to choke for a second before showing that he was only pretending.

“It’s downright edible,” he confirmed. “Now let’s try this fish.”

Though in the back of his mind he was wondering if...well, no. He shouldn’t wonder things like that.

“Dish up, lad. Dish up. I’m getting another beer.”

“Hrm…. Satisfactory then. The gods of the veggies have decided to spare you tonight. And of course, as you said, I’ll take this first.” A small corner of his chosen filet was cut then placed in his mouth and then Nischal made a swooning motion. “Oh it simply sets my gut a flutter in anticipation in how delightfully tantalizing the rest of it will be. Just wait, it will melt in your mouth just as it melts in mine!”

After a few moments of working the deliciousness factor, he laughed just as loudly as Donovan had, almost snorting, then downed the last of his beer. He held up the empty glass for the other to see, and smiled.

“Fill up mine too, if you would please! It’s much more… Something than I thought. It’s not bad.” This whole thing was so pleasant, having someone else in his home with him. Part of him, in this moment, wished the other wouldn’t ever leave. It was lonely in the silence at times… But he shouldn’t think of that now, no! He was making a friend, and that’s what matter. That and the food he was almost messily plating. When did his coordination get so off?

“Just go ahead and place it at the table, I’m bringing the food over.”

Donovan watched him, chuckling softly.

“Boy, you’re laying it on a little thick, aren’t you?”

He laughed louder and dished up a plate, sinking his fork into the fish to taste for himself. Honestly, it wasn’t too bad. It wasn’t the orgasm inducing taste he was led to believe, but that wasn’t really something he believed in the first place. He took a moment to chew it over thoughtfully.

“Not bad. Not bad at all. In fact, you’re hired!”

He took everything to the table, including a new beer for Nischal, and laid the things out across from one another. He took his own seat, taking a leisurely drink from his glass. He leaned back a little and watched his companion across the table. The boy was something of a mystery to him, considering their surroundings, his age, and the travel he’d been told about.

“Why did you go across country at such a young age?”

“I have always had a penchant for the dramatics. Fairy tales and exaggerations. But it’s good, right?” Once that was confirmed, he happily brought the plates over, along with silverware and set them down across from one another. Despite living alone, Nischal’s dining room table was big enough to fit at least six people comfortably. Maybe there was a bit of hope that one day he really would be close to enough people that they were willing to come over for dinner more often.

Now that he was settled in his seat across from the other man, he dug into his food, enjoying their efforts and the beer that slid down his throat easily this time. Of course, the world became a little hazy, but it was comfortable, like an early summer’s fog.

The question about his travels threw him off guard for a moment, and he tried to recollect his thoughts just enough to make sure his story was solid. It was still mostly truth, but one couldn’t just say they corrupted and had no family.

“Well… When I was young, I fell in love. And then that love hurt me deeply and I felt alone. I don’t really have any family here, and when I was still in highschool, I was an emancipated youth, so even then there was no one at home. The loneliness ate away at me for a long time, to the point where I fell into a deep depression because of it. Since no one could stop me, I got my GED online, bought an RV, and vanished to travel across the country one day, just like that. The depression was much easier to handle when I was alone by choice, and It’s been… Hrm… Two years since then? I just came back a few months ago. Figured it was time to try again.” He hadn’t expected his tongue to be so loose, and sighed when he realized just how much he had spoken. So much for there being a good mood. Another long drawl of the beer was taken before he spoke again. Without even trying to hide it, he made an attempt to switch the subject.

“So tell me more about your travels. Where did you like going the most?”

Donovan knew something about broken hearts. Recently he’d come very close to having his own broken for the very first time, romantically. It wasn’t a feeling he relished and if it had happened likely he would have had that same fight or flight mentality. Being in Destiny City, trying to deal with the memories, would just be too much. He hadn’t handled it particularly well when he found out he was in love, either, so it was strange.

“I know those feelings,” he said softly. “And what they do to a person.”

Still, he didn’t want to bring the company down when it had been such a nice night. He ate a few bites as he listening, imagining being that free at such a young age. He would have enjoyed it, but never would have been able to bring himself to leave Pappy. The man had been getting up there when he was a teen, having had his mother late in life.

“I love Morocco. The food, the atmosphere, you can’t match it in the world. Not in the wide world.”

He smiled as he remembered it. The first time he’d been he was overwhelmed with the sights and smells, colors. He felt like a kid again at a carnival.

“But going home to where my family is from, in Ireland, was also quite the trip. I did that one to honor Pappy. He deserved to have his ashes scattered where his mother was born.”

He’s shipped over at a young age but his mother had been born somewhere near Dublin and came through Ellis Island as a child. He went there to deliver Pappy to his homeland as a final tribute.

“I never knew the power a place I’d never been could have over me. I got to where she was born and it felt like home. Honest to God home. Only, I’d never been there. I can’t describe it. It’s like being in a place in your dreams and then finding it while you’re awake.”

When he realized that Donovan was willingly letting the story about his past drop, Nischal visibly relaxed, starting up eating again as the other spoke. And the brief tidbits he got about each destination had him longing for India once more.

“Wow… That’s some dedication to your family. I bet your Pappy rests easy due to your kindness. And from what I remember you saying about him before, he was quite the adventuring man. Seems only fitting that his final adventure would be to go back home. Do you happen to have pictures of where you’ve been to share?” The story came off as very romantic, in the sense that it was an ideal situation, ending in an ideal ending, and had Nischal thinking about his childhood, from when he was still simply known as Isha.

“You know, I was actually born in India. Where exactly, I’m unsure, since I moved here when I was around four or five and cannot remember much. But I do remember these giant lotus ponds with their roots tangled under the water, and swimming among them… Have you ever been to India?”

“I owed the man. He raised me. He made me who I am.”

Going to Ireland was the least he could do to honor the man that raised him. Besides, he needed to see his ancestral home in the same way he needed to see Vesuvius and what that was like. They were two sides of himself that he’d only recently begun to explore. When he was lost it was finding root in these things that kept him on the rails, so to speak, and for that he owed it to himself to keep going.

“I have an entire bookshelf, lad, at the apartment.”

He did. It was the one thing he was fastidious about - keeping record of where he’d been and what he’d done there. All his photos were in black binders labeled by date. Some were used in the magazine but the others he kept as mementos, memories of the amazing experiences he’d had.

He nodded. “I’ve made my way to India a few times. I’ve been all over. Calcutta stands out to me but I can’t say I spent a lot of time swimming.”

He’d seen tigers there, and snakes that would make many a man wet his pants. He saw elephants and children dancing in the street with colorful clothes. He’d also seen poverty and industrialized areas with choking smoke and people stacked on top of one another. One of his jobs was to see the best in places, but also to see the worst. Still, overall it was a beautiful place.

“He raised you well, Donovan, that I can already tell.” The other man was very well mannered, and certainly light hearted when times came from it, that was obvious even with the short amount of time they had spent together. And how could someone with such a loud and wonderful laugh be anything but good?

“I haven’t been there myself since being a child, but I’d like to go. If you have pictures, then you’ll have to show me so I can decide to one day.” He had no plans right now to leave the city. He literally just got back!

“The next meal we have will be at your place. I’m not so fancy though when it comes to being a guest, so I think Pizza and beer sounds good too. But maybe something a little sweeter. This stuff is… Good.” He emphasised this with another deep swig. “But I’m sure there’s other sweeter things out there too, right?”

“He’d have liked to hear someone say that!” He laughed. “I wasn’t the easiest child to raise.”

It was true. He was prone to trouble even at a young age, brawling with other kids when he had the mind to and trying to rescue damsels well before he had the muscles to do it properly. He didn’t used to be equipped for fighting, but now that he was a knight he’d made the effort to work out, bulking up for his assignments and his night job as well. It showed now, he supposed, and it wasn’t terribly unappealing.

“You can see the pictures when you come over one night to meet Marlin and have dinner. Or even if Marlin’s not home we can stay in and I’ll show you some photos, maybe a film.”

He’d remember to pick up something sweeter to drink when the time came. He also had a collection of old films that Pappy had liked. He wasn’t big on films unless he was with someone else, but he did collect and enjoy those for nostalgia. Anyway, he hoped he could find more in common with the young man. It sounded like he needed a friend to relate to and God knew he was pretty good at that role.

“Really? Were you super rebellious? Or maybe just too eager for adventure. Either way, I’m sure you were adorable, even if you were a little troublemaker.” Nischal laughed around a forkful of broccoli, imaging a tiny tyke of a Flynn with adventuring hat and lasso running around and declaring discoveries all over. It was really a cute image, and not too far from his own childhood. Granted, he was much more a sailor than a general traveler back then.

“That sounds great! Do you enjoy those old adventuring films? Like the old Indiana Jones Movies from the 80’s?” He, too, grew up on the old movies where he sat in front of the screen with big, bright eyes and hoping that one day, he too could make new discoveries out on the open sea. Life didn’t quite pan out that way just yet, but there was still plenty of time.

“By the way, do you like to sail too? Eer, on the ocean beyond just fishing? I haven’t been in a long time, but when I was younger, it was a large part of my normal outdoor activities when my family went to the beach for the summer. I think it might be nice to have a second mate one of these days when the weather gets normal. It’s been years, but I’m sure it would be just grand to go out there again.” He paused, realizing he got ahead of himself.

“That is, if you’d be interested.”

“I wouldn’t say rebellious more than being a handful. I was spirited, let’s say.”

Though the images Nischal had weren’t too far from the truth with a few more rights and baseball games. He spent time with Pappy at ball games and some afternoons watching old movies with him on TV. Otherwise, he went out and played like any other kid with his own special brand of exploring and heroism that looked suspiciously like fighting and breaking and entering. It was a miracle he’d never been caught in the litany of crimes he committed.

“Think older. Errol Flynn movies from the 30s through the 50’s.”

He was such a fan of old swashbuckler films because they were some of Pappy’s favorites and that was what he watched when all the rest of the world watched Disney films. He wasn’t familiar with much else besides those few precious few movies that he still had at home.

“Oh, aye, lad. I sail. I love to sail.”

Of course he knew a place where he could charter a boat, if ever Nischal wanted to go out sailing. He was handy on a boat and the thought had him eager. He gave the boy a wide smile.

“This sounds like a plan.”

“I was going to mention those movies but that seemed a little too old. I loved those too! Ah, I think we’ll have a grand time going on a movie binge! I haven’t that since I was a child!” Life was far too busy when he was on the road to really enjoy a movie, much less a movie with anyone else. It sounded almost too good to be true to imagine something so peaceful in this city. But with Donovan, it was beginning more and more possible to have that little piece of normalcy again. At least he hoped so and didn’t screw it up.

At the mention of loving to sail, Nischal excitedly got up from his eat, going over to a shelf and quickly grabbing a book before running back to Donovan’s side. The book was filled with mapping plans of where he wished to sail and fish, along with several different boats he thought might do the job of being the proper vessel for their adventures.

“I have lots and lots of plans to go sailing one day, some small expeditions, some larger ones, but so many that I’ve been thinking about doing! I’ve always wanted to just sail away for a month or so, enjoying no burdens of the life I have here, just me, the sea, and maybe a friend or two for company. Maybe some satellite internet as well, because let’s face it, Our lives are way to connected to the net to let that go these days. Doesn’t that sound grand?”

Wow. So they had more in common than just a love of the water. It wasn’t often people heard of the old swashbuckler from the 30’s and 40s so when they did, he was impressed.

“We could certainly do that.”

Donovan chuckled a little at Nischal’s enthusiasm, not the least bit put off by it. It was good to have a friend as excited by the ocean as he was. The plan was so someday buy a small schooner and be able to sail it as he pleased on his days off but that plan was still a few years from fruition, unless he put together a book or something and it got really popular really quickly. He didn’t have that kind of luck so he was holding off to find maybe a ship that needed a little bit of love.

He looked over the maps and found a few of the locations coincided with his own desires.

“I think we might be able to work something out. I can leave my cell phone on dry land if you can.”

Which wasn’t entirely true. He would still need to be able to call his boyfriend and let him know how he was doing. He wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice. But, still, he was excited to indulge in something he loved.

“Plans are a wonderful thing. It’s making them happen that’s the trick.”

More and more Nischal’s excitement grew, to the point where he reached over across the table and pulled his beer and plate to be beside Donovan’s while they looked over the plans together. He pointed to a few places, describing what he wanted to do there, and what route he would take, which season they should go and how long it would take. There were many different options, and it seemed excessive, but the entire time he had traveled around the country, he only think of the sea and how much more exciting it would have been to be on a sailing vessel rather than in an RV. Sadly, sailing was much more regulated…

“Oh, I don’t know if I could leave my cellphone on shore. You never know, right? I would also wish to be able to check up on a few people on shore every now and then, and when we hit some place knew, ask them questions to pick up proper gifts and what not.” Not that he had many friends these days either. While he wasn’t actively looking for anything, it would be nice to have a lover who would rather remain on the shore, if only for that moment of reunion between them and the passionate kiss that would happen upon seeing each other once again. At that thought, he took another deep drink of his beer before sitting back in his chair.

“I should probably look more into finishing school, or finding an actual job these days before I make my dreams come true. It seems improper to do something without earning it… Then again, I could always get two different boats. One sailing one just for leisure, and another larger motor boat for running a fishing charter. Talk all the rich folks in DC out onto the rivers and the lakes for fishing. Maybe even run a fishing service off of the coast every other weekend.”

Donovan had his own ideas about where he wanted to sail and how he wanted to go about it. Not all of the waters were safe to travel in, but there were some places that were safer than others. He wanted to sail to Rome, Greece, and travel the sandy beaches of the European coast. He wanted to explore the entire world at his own pace, rather than the pace of his magazine. It was about time he travelled for himself.

“Find what you love, lad. Find something you love and reach for it.”

Travel and photography, as unlikely as they seemed, were what he loved. His travel for work wasn’t often comfortable, but it was always enjoyable, especially when he was finished with the assignment.

“I agree with earning your own rewards, certainly. I’ve worked my way up from nothing. I’m not very important, but I am happy and can provide for myself and that’s more than I can ask for most of the time.”

He smiled, pushing the book back toward its owner. Whatever the plans, they would not be for a while.

“Easier said than done, my friend. As much as I’ve traveled, It was hard at all times to think of what to do next. The only comfort were those nights on the beach, watching the line where the sky met the sea and feeling it call my name.” With the way the city was at this time, he couldn’t just let himself leave. There were things he needed to know, information that needed to be gathered and some sort of stability maintained, at least for his court, as small as it was.

“Alas, the sea isn’t going anywhere, and once I’m settled in, I’ll have a plan. There’s no rush for it, after all.” Being a lad of only nineteen, there was so much time left for him to continue on with his dreams. A bit of responsibility certainly wasn’t going to kill him, after all.

The book was taken carefully and placed back upon the shelf before Nischal returned once again to is seat, looking over at Donovan with slightly hazy eyes. The alcohol was much stronger than he assumed, and he was unsure if he wanted to laugh or wanted to fall asleep soon.

“Thanks again for coming to visit me here. I do hope it wasn’t too much of a shock, this place… Now what’s next? More beer or cake or both?”

“You’re right about that. There’s time still for these grand plans.”

Donovan got up from the table and stretched a little, feeling contentedly full and pleased with the way the evening had gone. It was nice to make a new friend and he smiled to his companion, picking up some of the dinner things to carry to the kitchen, at least. He tried to be a polite guest. Anyway, when he was finished rinsing off a few things and setting them aside he turned back to his host.

“I think any more beer and you might be in your cups. Maybe next time.”

He chuckled and steered the smaller man toward the couch, depositing him safely onto the cushions.

“I think this is the portion of the night where I take my leave and let you sleep it off.”

They’d had a grand time and he’d been there for a few hours, at least, and it was a pleasant visit. There was nothing saying they couldn’t do it again sometime soon. He planned on it, in fact. He was pretty sure he could show himself out, moving to give his host a smile.

“Tonight was grand, lad. I’ll go get my shoes and see myself to a cab. I left my address on the kitchen counter, in case you wanted to go slumming some night.”

“Be in your cups? Whatever does that mean? I have noooo idea what you’re talking about.” Nischal’s laughter at his own failed sense of humor had him snorting, covering his face with both hands to stifle the laughter that he couldn’t quite control. With the hands on him, taking him safely to the couch, he just laughed a little harder.

“I hadn’t expected the beer to be so funny! It is a wonderful evening, for certain!” Flopping down on the couch with grace that was nonexistent, he made a horrified expression at Donovan, feigning dread at the very mention of him leaving.

“W-wait, you cannot leave just yet! There’s cake to be had!” Not that he was truly feeling like eating any given his drunken state. “Atleast take a bit for the road, if you must leave now! I’d wrap up some for you but… I’m sure the last thing you’d wish to see is me falling over in this state. Ah! You should… Um… Yes, you should leave me your number as well! I’d hate to show up unannounced!”

“It means you’re drunk, lad.”

He laughed, not used to being around people that weren’t used to his expressions. Perhaps the phrase was a little old, but he didn’t mind that. Often it was true and it was a little less harsh than saying plainly that someone was drunk. He looked drunk, giggling on the relative high that the beer had him in.

“It’s been a good visit, lad. Next time we can plan a bit better and there will be time for cake.”

Surprisingly he wasn’t much of a fan of sweets.

“You have my number, it’s in your phone. Try to sleep it off.”

He smiled dazzlingly at the boy before he made his way to the door to take his leave. He shut it firmly behind him, hoping that Nischal didn’t wake up with a hangover like it looked like he might.