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 Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2017 12:20 pm
Lawrence liked his creature comforts, lavish places to relax and no end of being pampered. That was why when they stepped out of the portal, it was close to a very comfortable private cabin. They appeared to be in a forest and the co-ordinates had stated that it was somewhere in Texas.
"Trail riding." Lawrence said with a hint of eagerness. "Is something I really used to enjoy doing. I think you'll do all right too, have you ever ridden horses before?"
It was a shame he didn't have his own horse any longer, taking Luce out on a hack had always been a satisfying way to unwind after a testing day. Alongside it all was the perpetual low key enjoyment he got from doing things that reminded him of cowboys and old western movies, pretending even mentally that he was someone else.
"If not we'll show you how."
He had a small suitcase with him of belongings and wheeled this along behind him as he made his way to the cabin. "But in between we need somewhere to relax, somewhere to shower and dress."
Inside, there was a hot tub, slick wood flooring and no expense spared.
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2017 3:43 pm
Melvin probably had the same misconceptions most people when they thought of cowboys and Texas, and has been expecting to go someplace where he could see the horizon in every direction and nothing but long, sprawling fields speckled with horses.
He instead stepped into the woods, and confused, looking over at his phone when it showed he was still in Texas. There came the rush of unfamiliar sensations of hearing birds chirps and bugs buzz about, and he took a moment to breath. Staring at a cabin awaiting them, he smiled back sheepishly.
"Does riding a pony in a circle held by some fair attendant when you were 5 count as riding a horse because then no. I've never ridden one." He confessed and moved towards the cabin.
If not we'll show you how.
We.
Jan and Lawr?
Inside, he had to pause and then smile at the cabin. He had been expecting roughing it out and if there was a cabin, to have little else aside a fireplace and some beds, but the hot tub reminded him countless times that regardless of adventure and persona, a bonus given freely was a bonus fully used.
"I see we can hot-tub away any sore muscles from riding." He commented as he moved to inspect the place. "Don't remember any cowboy songs mentioning that."
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2017 4:00 pm
"It's a start." he said with a small smile. "At least you've met one. More than some people can say." He hadn't gotten to ride anything more than a donkey at the beach until he left school. "So that's fine, as long as you are willing to give it a shot."
Lawrence didn't much like the outdoors as a general rule, but when it came to indulging in horses and a little bit of his cowboy fantasies, he was willing to deal with all of it, from mosquitoes to the weather.
He took his suitcase into the bedroom, a large comfortable one with a fresh clean double bed and an en suite bathroom. The shower seemed to have been chosen as a particularly roomy and new one.
"I'll write you a cowboy song about luxury." he said, "If you like."
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2017 4:16 pm
"Will you sing it over a campfire and a can of beans?" Melvin teased, pressing his hand on the bed to test the mattress before walking into the bathroom.
The faucet of the bath could be heard as Melvin tested the temperature before drying his hands off on a plush towel before walking back out.
"Where are the horses anyways? I just saw woods. How did you even find this place?"
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2017 4:29 pm
"If you like." he said, with that edge of a playful drawl. "Though you'd needta help me find the words."
He slid back to his normal inflection. "The horses are a little ways along the trail at the main complex. The cabins are rented, people come here to trail ride, hike and sometimes hunt, but it is well.. a little less rustic than what you normally see. I prefer not to rough it any more than I need to."
He raised a brow. "As for how. I'm not too old to use the internet Melvin."
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2017 4:36 pm
"A real wilderness getaway." Moving over, he draped his arms about Lawr and started to kiss his neck.
"I hope we don't have to stay with any group though. I was hoping for private lessons from the real deal."
"I was just wondering if you ever came here before."
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2017 4:47 pm
Lawrence slipped his arms back around Melvin, inclining his head to give him more ready access to bare skin. "No groups, you can privately take a horse or two out on the trail if one of you is experienced, which I am so no worries about that, it will be some time for just us."
He inhaled the smell of Melvin's hair and closed his eyes. "No though, I didn't come here before, but I've been to places like it. There's a fireplace too. I am very fond of a good fireplace, the heat gets right into your bones."
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2017 5:06 pm
He wanted to press himself against him and fill every space, surrounding himself in the presence of him until all sensation was just Lawr. It was a ache that had consumed him when Lawr left to be with Rodney, leaving himself alone and pained. Now the pain hadn't gone away but felt just as strong in it's appetite in wanting to devour each and every aspect of Lawr. To make up for lost time or maybe to dig deep into the very core of him so that he could never escape him again to make him feel that pain again.
Memory demanded he constantly breath him, kiss him, and reassuring himself that nothing was forgotten and all sensation was refreshed with new memories.
He wanted not make a claim or ownership, but to make his presence known and felt. To be remembered and not forgotten.
Being let go so easily had hurt.
That night still hurt.
Those words still hurt.
"That sounds great. Laying before it after. I want to see you glow." He muttered as he continued to kiss and n** against his throat, getting sidetracked.
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2017 5:22 pm
Lawrence held Melvin back, but his thoughts were not of ferocity or hurt but of a surprised sense of satisfaction and gratitude. Melvin hadn't left him, even when he was cast aside or rejected. He'd stayed true, stayed resolutely Melvin, through thick and thin, through anything that made him who he was.
Butch wanted to eat him, but that was a compliment from the weapon, whose ramblings Lawrence had learned to decipher.
His breath hitched slightly under the other man's attentions and he exhaled to steady himself. "I'm sure you will." he said. "But there's no hurry. How about we settle in a bit before heading down there?" He smiled and gave Melvin a keen sort of look. "Because I think your first riding lesson could be right here."
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2017 5:42 pm
Saliva on the other hand had been quiet and resigned, grumbling but otherwise letting Melvin ignore her and continue to delight in having Lawr's attention once more. Like a dog being put outside in the rain to then being let back indoors and showered with affection, he couldn't help but soak up the way Lawr turned his head and entertain ever little indulgence he could ask and take.
"Sure. I'd like to really enjoy such a nice, plush place. A warm-up before we exercise." He kissed him deeply. "You should wear the hat. Gotta look the part."
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2017 6:05 pm
Lawrence gave Melvin a pleased grin and went to get his hat.
Later on, very much settled in, showered and dressed in a more relaxed and casual sort of outfit complete with a flannel shirt and boots, Lawrence stretched and turned to Melvin. He tipped the cowboy hat that he was wearing again. "You ready to hit the road pardner?" he asked.
It was a very good sort of distraction, he was having as much fun as it was possible for Lawrences to have.
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2017 6:33 pm
Melvin couldn't remember when he last worn flannel. His teens were a mix of t-shirts, hoodies, and sneakers which lead into college years of sweaters and khakis. Needles to say, he felt more in costume, but at least most of it was comfortable.
At least for the boots. They were taking some getting used to. Adjusting his hat, he had traded his googles for the day into a pair of normal glasses and made sure whatever needed buttons was buttoned before heading over, his footfalls sounding very loud on the wooden floorboards.
"Yeah. I think I'm good to go now." Despite enjoying himself, he was a bit nervous about actually riding a horse. Didn't they bite people? Weren't they like dogs that could sense if you were afraid or nervous?
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Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2017 8:25 am
Lawrence wasn't nervous, but of course he almost never was, and more than usual he seemed to be in his element. It was difficult not to lapse into using the Jan persona like this entirely, but as it was he managed to limit it to a few little twangs in his voice.
He looked Melvin over with a slight smile playing on his lips. "You look good like that." he said, and the novelty of seeing Melvin out of his element and dressed in something he wouldn't normally wear was interesting to say the least. It was a fortunate thing they'd already diverted themselves a little or he'd be the one derailing things again.
"They know it's a discreet trip, so people won't bother us too much, I spoke to them about it the other day." They could think whatever they liked about two men sharing a cabin, once upon a time the assumptions would have bothered him and been cause to cover things up, but these days Lawrence didn't care about anything at all. After all, what could anyone do to him now?
The way down to the stables was verdant and green, with the sun glimmering through the trees. It was hot but not too hot and spring had just taken hold of the land properly. "So, tell me what happened with Atlantis." he said. "I've been dying to hear."
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Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2017 8:55 am
It was nice to walk in anywhere but the desert or a jungle, and while the day was warm, it wasn't the overbearing humidity of the island. The air felt more clear, more open, and the background chittering of wildlife was a sweet song he missed. Animals - who weren't created by Fear but of Life and natural order.
The hat was at least good for keeping the sun out of his eyes and he couldn't help touching the brim occasionally with a sort of secret enjoyment. It was like playing pretend.
The topic instantly had him smiling as he looked over at Lawr. "It's beautiful. I didn't even expect to find it. We were destroying a massive Eel I noticed was being protected in a way by mermaids and it kept moving locations. I wanted it gone to see if I could make runic hunting a bit easier and maybe to examine the caves it lived in. When it left, there was a door that took in our runic energy to light up and open."
"It had me worried but we went inside and it lead to a open chamber with pools all around. A mermaid made of gold and with runic power in her stomach woke up to greet us and had a golden fish that peeled from the wall to translate. A sort of robotic golem. I named her Sophie since her name was far too long."
He took a deep breath. "There were other pools that lead to other places. She said Deus is Avalon and these places were like a network of key places. Atlantis and Avalon being two of them. She lead us through a set of doors right into Atlantis." And he stared out at the golden sun.
"It's beautiful there."
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Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2017 9:35 am
Lawrence listened to Melvin talk with an evident and thoughtful interest. "Translator fish and robotic golems? Sounds fascinating and no end of technology for Life division to plunder." There was a subtle edge of sarcasm in his tone when it came to talking about Life division. "But certainly something with plenty more to learn, the network you mention might lead to even greater treasures and riches." At the very least perhaps there would be something out there that could lighten the burden of debt he owed.
"It uses runic energy too." Did that account for the origin of the stones that Melvin had been finding, was there more to be found? "I certainly assumed runic power was ancient but it seems to be far more ancient than anyone guessed. You are a runic master already, perhaps there are more powerful, more specific rune shapes down there that you could uncover, better shields, better coding, any number of things."
He nodded, enjoying how refreshing the air seemed without a ton of humidity heaped in. He'd forgotten how nice his hair looked without that nonsense making it extra puffy. He felt good.
"I would certainly like to see it someday." Before everyone else got all of the more expensive plunder.
The stables were quiet, with a few workers there to help them choose out their horses and get them fitted up with saddle and bridle. Lawrence chose a more spirited horse, a hotblooded thoroughbred cross called Max. After explaining Melvin's experience, he was led to a few of the less flighty horses, ones typically used for schooling and for less confident guests.
Once his horse was kitted out with his tack and was ready to go, Lawrence led him out into the yard to wait on Melvin, allowing the stable staff to help him get the appropriate horse and the right sort of gear. He preferred to let them help with this because he knew he got impatient and short when it was something he knew fairly well.
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