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 Posted: Wed May 31, 2017 8:42 pm
Alexei left some time that morning, far before Shiloh even stirred a little bit. The bed was warm, and his arms had found themselves around Alexei during the night and to his unknowing, he was not pushed away. Even when the other extracted himself from his arms, last night was too much for him and he couldn't manage to wake himself up enough to say a small goodbye. By the time he DID wake up, the sun was high in the sky in the late afternoon, and sunlight came into the room he was in, heating it just enough to be uncomfortable. It was in that discomfort that he woke, groggy and muttering a soft questioning sound to himself.
It took some time for him to wake up enough to be functioning, which was incredibly weird, given the fact that he normally was up and ready to go the moment his eyes opened. Last night was... Stressful. Stressful and wonderful and ahh, his head hurt... Only vaguely did it register that it could have been a hang over, his head a foggy mess as he stumbled about in the large and unfamiliar house.
The first stop was to the laundry room, where the faintest of memories told him that his clothing was in the wash. He moved them to the dryer and fiddled around with the knobs and dials enough to start it before continuing his stumbling journey though the house with the pajamas Alexei lent him slipping slightly off his narrow shoulders. Breakfast was already laid out for him, and he blushed slightly at the thought of his dear Alexei having woken up extra early to prepare a meal for him. W-wait... his Alexei...? J-just what was his mind trying to convince him of...
Still, he wanted to provide a way to figure out how to thank his friend for his kindness last night so... So he'd provide a nice dinner, it certainly was the least he could do! But... What did Alexei even have?
The older man was right last night when he spoke about not having much... It was rather empty in the fridge, but the cabinets were a cooking lover's dream! Every utensil you could think of was available, strange potato mashers, a fancy steel set of knives... And to Shiloh's quiet delight, a slow cooker.
Once his clothing was dry (which took another hour of fighting off sleeping again) Shiloh took a deep breath and ventured on the long walk to a nearby grocery story, the money left on the counter for him to catch a cab used instead to pay for the few things he needed. While Shiloh wasn't the best cook, it wasn't too hard to stick something in the slow cooker to give to the older man once he returned late at night. Potatoes, beef broth, carrots and potatoes, a bit of meat, all were tossed in along with plenty of seasoning and set to cook on low for a few hours.... Oh oops, a few hours...?
It wasn't until after he started the meal that he realized he couldn't just leave with this on the counter alone without supervision... So he stayed.
Time wore on, and Shiloh did his best to remain busy. First, he fixed the bed he spent the night in, and started a new load of laundry to wash he pajamas he had borrowed. Then he tidied up the bathroom and took out the trash from last night. Yet as little work as it was, he found himself exhausted still... A moment on the couch with his eyes closed wouldn't be that big of an issue... Right? As soon as he woke, he'd go home... And he'd be sure not to bother the judge for a long while after. It would be so wrong of him to intrude on his kindness any longer.
Minutes turned to hours and the sun dipped under the horizon, yet Shiloh remained asleep, his dreams filled with that wonderful, handsome man who cared so kindly for him... Part of him refused to wake up, letting him remain in those sweet dreams where this warm and loving home became his own. And for once, he was happy.
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Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2017 3:41 pm
Alexei could not have anticipated that Shiloh would still be at his house when he arrived; he assumed the silence from the other male could easily be chalked up from embarrassment or fatigue or any other reason, so it wasn’t so strange there. If he had known that Shiloh was still at his house, he might have come home early to check on him, though.
As it stood, he did come home a bit early—earlier than usual, at least, for him. He had stayed up late last night, first by the bedside while Shiloh slept and then, when he couldn’t resist sleep anymore, he’d finally crawled into the bed. The sensation of sharing it was strange, but not unpleasant. He had slept well enough until his alarm went off.
He was surprised that Shiloh didn’t awaken, particularly given how jumpy the young man always seemed, but it made for a quiet escape at least.
Now, Alexei returned to what he assumed to be an empty home. He was quiet entering, but only because such was his nature. He slipped off his shoes and carried his briefcase with him only to pause in the hallway.
Something was off.
It wasn’t just the strange, albeit not unpleasant aroma wafting through the house, but something else.
The hair on the back of his neck was standing and though he didn’t feel threatened, he suddenly became acutely aware of the area around him.
He took another step forward, silent and cautious. He was prepared for some sort of attack, either from some common criminal or a youma, or—
Alexei froze when he saw Shiloh.
Quietly still, he set his briefcase down before making his way over to the couch. He knelt next to it, one brow raised as he examined the male’s face. He was breathing, apparently sleeping comfortably. He lingered in silent observation for a moment before he reached out, brushing some of Shiloh’s curls from his forehead. The touch was delicate, gentle, in a way that Alexei rarely seemed.
“Shiloh,” he greeted, voice sounding strangely stern and amused. “Are you feeling a bit more rested or shall I leave you to finish your nap?”
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Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 10:42 am
Such sweet dreams came over Shiloh as he slept, dreams of a kindness and warmth that he so very seldom used to and he would certainly blame that for how long he slept. And yes, it was true that he was a jumpy sort, who quickly panicked and feared for the worse in most situations, but the house was so quiet and peaceful, not a single sound of a siren blasting through his window, leaving him to feel so very safe. So safe, in fact that when night fell again, and the door opened, steps echoing out in the silence, he didn't stir.
It wasn't until fingers touched him that he opened his eyes slowly. A moment of confusion passed as his tired eyes struggled to adapt to the light, before they finally focused on Alexei. Having slept so much just left him tired and sluggish, so his normal squeaking and panicking came out much more slowly.
First came a shocked expression, blurred by the fact he rubbed his eyes clean of sleep. Then a slow pink crawled cross his cheeks when he realized just how gently Alexei had touched him, which quickly flared up brighter as he recalled his dreams just moments ago. Yes there was gentle touches there, but there was more... There were soft kisses and his name so soft and whispered that just recalling it caused his hands to cover up the heat that rapidly covered his face.
"S-sir!" He finally managed to squeak out, stammering in that way that came so very naturally to him. And just as naturally came his rambling. "I-I didn't mean to stay so long... I-I really didn't mean to be here when you returned, I-I'm sure you didn't want me here for two nights in a row! I just really wanted to pay you back for last night and I kept falling asleep because I-it's my day off and most of the time I sleep the day away, b-but I went to the store instead of going home so I could make dinner for you. I know the money was meant to be for my ride home b-but I have no problem just walking home right after I was making, but I've never used a slow cooker before and I didn't think it through, that it would be hours and hours and hours before it was ready, even though it makes alot of sense and if someone really thought about it. But I tried! I really did so.. So that maybe you could come home and relax to a nice dinner that someone who care about you made, since you work so hard!"
Towards the end of his rant, he became much more firm in his words, perhaps Alexei's influence was taking a hold; the constant encouragement to say what he wanted and to trust him taking root in his mind and Shiloh learned not to doubt it any more, or atleast not so much. Finally he grew quiet, upset at himself, but finding himself not ready to leave yet... Not when Alexei just got home... He could leave later, after sending more time with the much more mature man. And he was determined, despite his nerves and his self doubts, to not run away.
"I was thinking... Maybe.. Maybe we can have dinner together...? I can go home after that... N-Not that I want to leave! I-i mean... I do like it here, but I know you also like to be alone and I'm okay to go home, I actually need to, since my work stuff is there a-and I have classes in the morning, along with needing things for work... But I-I would... I would love to have dinner with you!"
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Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 1:26 pm
There was no frustration, no anger in Alexei’s expression. Instead, he seemed to find humor in Shiloh’s rambling. An unmistakable pride had lit up his face; seeing Shiloh with a backbone, speaking his mind and expressing his wants was really all he could ask for from the male.
“I don’t think you have to call me ‘Sir’ in my own home,” Alexei mused; a smile had worked its way onto his usually stoic face. “You had a rough night. I invited you into my home and you have yet to overstay your welcome. We’ll have dinner together, and then I’ll take you home.”
He stood, thoughtlessly combing his fingers through Shiloh’s hair before he stepped away from the couch and moved into the kitchen. “I hope the house didn’t give you much trouble. I know my kitchen set up probably isn’t the best. This, though,” he had to pause and inhale the aroma in the kitchen. He nodded approvingly before pulling a glass from one of the cabinets. “It smells wonderful. Will it be done soon?”
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Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2017 1:40 pm
The hands in his hair felt awfully good, the way they so casually ran through them and made them poof up in a rather silly manner for a moment. Alexei's smile had graced him once again and Shiloh averted his eyes, unable to keep himself from smiling down towards the ground as the other headed into the kitchen.
"Your house is fine! Though I can honestly say I just went into the Bedroom, bathroom, laundry room, kitchen, and here, in the living room... I-I thought it would be rude to look anywhere else..." Standing up, he stretched up high, arching his back slightly to get a satisfying pop before following Alexei into the kitchen to look at the slow cooker. It smelled amazing, and he was surprised himself by just how good it smelled, and he lifted the lid, grabbing a spoon to give it a quick stir. "I think it's finished now, if you're hungry... "
With a quick glance, he spotted the bowls he had set out earlier and got them, ready to dish out the meal. "It's just beef stew... I do hope you like it. And there is plenty for leftovers for work tomorrow for the both of us, so I think that might be good, if you remembered to eat." For once, he managed a grin, teasing the older man for his own misplaced diet. The little tease even surprised Shiloh, for it was then he realized just how easy it was being around Alexei, and how naturally it felt to open up around him.
Then again, it would be strange to think about it any other way, given the fact that they had just spent the night in he same bed together...
"Would you be so kind so grab a glass for me as well? Will we be having more wine?"
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Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2017 8:51 pm
Deftly, Alexei’s hand returned to the cabinet to withdraw another glass by the stem. He set them on the counter next to each other. He laughed, amused at Shiloh’s jest.
“I’m famished, so any meal would be welcome. I am fortunate to have one that smells this delightful. Perhaps I should have you over more often. We can share recipes.”
While coffee was his preferred beverage, Alexei didn’t mind a good glass of wine. It was good for the heart, and good for the mind.
“I’ll set the table,” he said, collecting some cutlery before moving them and the glasses to the tablet. He grabbed a bottle of wine on the way over and paused only uncork it. He let it breathe on the table and returned to the kitchen to fetch bowls for them. From one of the pantries he removed a loaf of what seemed to be at least semi-freshly baked bread; he cut a few slices and gestured for Shiloh to dish out the stew.
He rolled his shoulders as he worked, releasing a soft, content sigh as his muscles began to relax. “It’s nice to be home. It feels so much more welcoming when someone else is here. It’s been years since I had someone waiting for me.” He paused and hid the smile that dawned on his face as he continued slicing the bread. “It was a pleasant surprise.”
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Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2017 1:37 pm
"If you'd like me over more often... I-I don't think I'd mind at all... I really enjoyed being here with you. It's so much quieter than my home, and I... Well, I don't know, I just feel happy here..." Shiloh more murmured to himself than actually speaking directly to Alexei, though it was loud enough for him to hear. Perhaps his cheeks were just not destined to be their normal softly tanned color anymore. No, they were permanently stained pink whenever Alexei was near.
"Alright, thank you..." Somehow he managed to compose himself and pull out the Ceramic insert for the slow cooker and followed behind Alexei, filling up the bowls as the were set down. The smell only grew as the lid was removed and Shiloh realized Alexei was right, it WAS delicious smelling. Briefly he wondered what kind of wine it was, but he'd figure he'd find out soon enough. It'd probably just taste like whatever they drank last night, given how trained his tongue was, which was not at all.
Everything set and bowls filled, Shiloh took his seat, waiting a moment to finish eating until the judge would return to start eating. Again, he smiled, listening to the man he... The man he had great affection for start to speak of how nice it was that he was here, and so badly he wanted to say that he wouldn't mind staying, that he'd love to be here every night to greet him after a long day of work with dinner and just easy talking, but the words just wouldn't form on his tongue and he looked down, trying to figure out the best way to convey this strange feeling...
"I-I suppose you don't get many surprises these days... And if you do they aren't the most pleasant of things. I want to be something that makes you smile all the time so... I uh... I guess I succeeded this time... I'm glad..."
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Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 8:22 am
The older man inclined his head curiously as he listened to Shiloh speak. He seemed at peace, relaxed. There was a certain level of formality it seemed he could never shed; Alexei reeked of professionalism and etiquette, and yet—here, like this—he seemed to be the most comfortable. He wasn’t putting on airs, wasn’t burying himself in his work.
He was enjoying dinner, with Shiloh.
Sitting at the table, sipping wine, enjoying the meal Shiloh had prepared; it was the most peaceful evening he’d had in a long time. He was able to lean back in his chair and breathe easily.
“We’ll have to arrange it, then,” he said simply. “If you ever need to get away from home, you just let me know. We’ll make it work.”
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Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 8:40 am
"Of course..." Shiloh simply smiled and began to eat, nibbling away at the food like the little bird he often was. And the food was quite good, he was quite proud of himself for it, an unusual feeling for sure.
After they were finished, Shiloh made sure to take the time to clean up everything, packaging up leftovers for them both so that they could both enjoy the meal again next evening. And it only took a few moments before he was all packed up to go, having brought nothing with him except the clothes on his back the night before. If anything, he left the toothbrush that he bought this morning on the counter in the bathroom, a small hope that it would be used again sooner rather than later.
"Alright... I guess it's time to go home... It's a bit of a drive, but not too bad, especially given this hour. I'm sorry for making you leave your home so late, I'm sure you want to rest..."
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Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2017 5:13 pm
Alexei shrugged; he seemed far from concerned. “It’s no trouble,” he assured; he had yet to change out of his work attire, but given who he was it was doubtful Alexei had anything that wasn’t at least slightly professional.
“Having dinner waiting will more than make up for whatever inconvenience you think you’re putting me through. Besides,” he shrugged. “You know my hours. I don’t often even make it home this early. I probably wouldn’t be leaving the office for a few hours, so it isn’t anything to worry about Shiloh.”
Whatever work he had wasn’t so important that he had to stress about getting it done immediately. Alexei was a professional—thorough and diligent, but his time management rivaled his attention to detail. He slipped on his jacket again and picked up his keys before wrapping his arm around Shiloh to guide him out.
The contact wasn’t anything particularly intimate, but it was meant as a reassurance.
Alexei didn’t mind spending the time with him.
He might not say it as plainly as others could, but he enjoyed their time together.
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