Welcome to Gaia! ::

Everything hurt but that fog had cleared from his head a bit which was a godsend as Rene blinked and started to wake up. The space in front of him was empty and Alexandre was gone again. Maybe it had all been a dream after the nightmare of a night he’d had. Getting out of bed, he found those pants and put them back on, leaving them undone and pulling the long shirt down to hide that fact. Wandering around, he made his way to the bathroom to splash some water on his face again. Already the rough stubble of not shaving for a day was starting to show against the dark bruising on his face. It hurt to touch and he could see how he looked like total s**t. Maybe he wasn’t hungover anymore but he still looked like he’d been banged up pretty bad, not the worst he’d been but still pretty bad. It usually wasn’t his face like this though. After that he headed downstairs and started to look for Alexandre, he saw the TV was on but hadn’t seen them yet.

After a moment he heard a sound in the kitchen and went to investigate. They had showered and changed, looking very warm as they always were. He’d never really been one to get too cold other than when heading outdoors but he also hadn’t really seen them without at least one or two layers. Pulling one of the chairs out, he sat and looked at the vegetables that were cut and ready for cooking. Food would be good though he hadn’t expected a meal to be made for him, he’d been one who lived on restaurants and delivery. “You cook for yourself? No chef?” Leaning his chin on his palm, carefully, he looked around and noticed a greenhouse through the window. He hadn’t really seen any in the city but then again he really didn’t know where in the city he was. Or even if he was still in the city. “How far from my shop and my place are we? I realize I don’t have my phone and I never opened up today, I wonder how many calls I got from customers…” He’d have to go through and call those back who had been interested in things and maybe stay open on one of the weekend days to make up for missed appointments but even the thought of it made his head throb and he pulled a hand up to his face again. It felt too bright in here.

It still felt a bit odd, being in their home but he was glad that it hadn’t been a dream about them being there with him. It was easier to go with the flow of things though, he’d figure it out as they went. That tension wasn’t in the air anymore either which helped as well, at least not as much now that they were here. “Is that your greenhouse out back? Do you grow flowers in there or something else?” They’d spoken of flower language before at his shop and he was curious if they grew anything related to that. He also was finding it a lot easier to ask these simple questions to try and learn about them now that he was in their home.

Hunching down a bit he felt embarrassed, he’d not really been the one cooking back home. There were maids, cooks, and gardeners to take care of things back there and once moving here he had the money to order from restaurants or delivery. He knew how to bake a bit, but nothing else really. “That’s very respectable.” Hiding his embarrassment as he turned to look the other way for a moment, taking in more of the decor and stylistic choices of their home.

“Oh that’s not too far to drive, I’ll have to learn the way. Even though I have my car here now I still haven’t learned much of the roads outside of my route to and from the customs depot.” The roads made no sense here at times, one way into roundabouts and poor signage. Looking back over at them he felt a little torn, he didn’t want to go but he knew he had to work if he wanted to make sure he didn’t mess up his paperwork. “Maybe… but I am a bit nervous after last night.” Watching them up on the counter, he couldn’t help but smile a bit at how cute they looked. It felt nice seeing them again, without all the seriousness and stories of things he didn’t really understand yet. They’d come back for him and he’d get an explanation in time but he wanted to just take it easy and just let things happen if they’d let it.

Thinking for a moment he sat up straight and a bit startled before getting back up from his seat as he looked back towards the couch and living area. “My bag, I was wearing it. Do you have it here or did it get lost in the mess?” The quick turn of his neck though sent him back into his seat as he felt dazed, it had been a bit too much. He hoped it hadn’t because it had his paint kit in it as well as his wallet that held his papers in it too. It would be a mess to try getting them back since he’d have to try getting ahold of the embassy for a copy of his passport and some other vital documents.

Hearing that there were flowers in the greenhouse he turned back to them once the dizziness started to fade back away. “I never really found a tea I liked back home but then again sugar wasn’t allowed to be added in. Maybe I’ll try one or two of your blends and see, otherwise, I am fine with espresso most times. For now maybe water, or if you have wine?” A bit of a drink would be nice and might help a bit with some things too. Mostly with the pain in his head and side, even if he’d been completely wasted last night he still wanted just a little bit more like he normally had.

“It still sounds much more respectable than a lot of others with money. Things were very different back home.” He’d had a governess but then again he was left alone most times at that huge manor that his family had. It would have been nice if he’d gotten to see his parents a bit more, other than when he was getting yelled at by his father for doing something that they deemed unfit for his standing in life.

“True and I’d been walking to and from everywhere until I got my car over here thanks to your help. My range for adventuring got wider just in time for all that snow where I wouldn’t dare drive in it.” He didn’t want to mess up his car, it was a classic and the thing was finally back in the country he’d imported it from so many years ago.

Scratching at his neck a bit as he thought about the wine, he’d normally grab the bottle and drink from it straight after a night like the one he’d had but this wasn’t his home and he didn’t want to make them think he was a slob or an alcoholic. Relaxing a bit he nodded and walked over to the main fridge first to grab a bottle of water, looking at the ingredients of what they were making to try and decide what type of wine would go with it. Kneeling down, he opened the cabinet and rotated the bottles to see what was in there. They had asked for a red but to cook with. He had to go slowly, everything still swirled a bit here and there and he could tell he was a bit uncoordinated still.

Rotating the bottles, he grabbed two reds out, one French and one Italian. They were both expensive so he felt a bit put out that one would be added in for cooking, he’d offer up the Italian for that as a bit of a nose towards that country and the women from it he so very much wanted nothing more to do with. Handing it over, he set the other bottle down on the table and pressed the cold water bottle to his face, sighing with relief at the cold against the bruising. “I’m glad it didn’t get lost, you didn’t have to clean my clothing though. I could have figured something out maybe.” That wasn’t something someone, who wanted something casual, would have done. It was nice though and helped him feel better about things as well. Maybe they wouldn’t leave him behind again, he was starting to feel a little more comfortable as he felt some of those strings starting to float back into his grasp.

Looking at them for a moment after giving the bottle of wine a once over, he walked back over to them. Getting a whiff of their cologne as he peeked over to see what they were making. It smelled good, like bourbon and apples, something that felt really nice to have in this cold weather. “Where would I find a corkscrew or glass? Also, what are you making?” Part of him was morbidly curious how much of that expensive wine they’d use but at the same time, it felt a bit sacriligous. Either way, he hesitantly wrapped his arms around their waist and rested his chin on top of their head. “I missed you Alexandre…” Staying there for a bit, he was content to just steal some attention and pity. Maybe he’d tease if his head wasn’t killing him but he was happy they were doing something for him.

Reaching up and over them, he grabbed what he needed and set it on the counter. There were so many types of glasses and he smiled a bit at how pristine and organized everything was. It was all perfect and he could see himself trying a few other things later on, not that he normally drank more than a bit of wine but the idea of trying some other drinks sounded nice. He’d try the wine in a bit, maybe after grabbing one of those ice packs they mentioned. “I’ll grab one in a bit.”

“Oh!” Alexandre was even making something specially for him, he couldn’t help but smile even more as they kissed him. “It’s the thought that counts… and you really are being so thoughtful.” To be honest it was more than he had ever done, he’d almost burned down his apartment making pasta and decided it was better to just eat out every day three times a day since he had the funds to do so.

Holding them tighter, things felt a lot better, not perfect but much more than he’d been thinking was going to happen after the past month. Running his hand down their back, he kissed the top of their head. “I’m glad you missed me… that you came back… everything was so dull without you. I might not know much about all this seriousness you were talking about but I know I want to find out more about you first. That’s more important to me.” Running his fingers through their pale hair, he made sure not to mess it up too much.

It made him think a bit, about how they’d always seemed to be thoughtful to him before so maybe he wasn’t as wrong about those strings he’d been trying to weave around them before the new year started. The fact that they didn’t lie felt almost like a trap of a sort but then again they weren’t good at hiding how he’d made them feel even back when they’d started that arrangement. Things that slipped out that made him fall for them a bit at a time.

“I don’t mind a wait for food, especially with how much work you are putting into it. Maybe… a few simple ones to start. What are some of your favorite things, like colors, flowers, and foods? I know what you like in bed but not those simple things that I can surprise you with.” He’d always loved the idea of bringing someone a bouquet of flowers, filled with ones that sent a message of how he felt. It would be nice since they’d understand the meaning, it wasn’t as special when that was lost on someone. “You can ask me things as well, with how meticulous you seem I wonder what you’ve dug up without my full name.” Then again they may not have looked into much because they weren’t looking for strings or commitment. He felt like they’d asked him something while he was hungover but it was still a bit far off. Everything before and after his head had hit the ground was fuzzy and he wasn’t sure how much of it would return, if ever.

Brightening, he followed them after pouring some wine into his glass. A quick sip to taste it, it was pretty good. Another of their New Year’s promises was being fulfilled and it really did help him feel better about things. Filling up his glass just a bit more, he then went for an ice pack in the freezer. Shivering as he pressed it to his face, he exhaled and followed them. “I would love to see your art, I’ve been wanting to see it for a while.”

“Yes it’s good, if you want tips on it I can help maybe? I have enough experience in it since you don’t partake.” Sipping it slowly as he walked, he could feel that nice warm fuzzy feeling on his face against the cold of the ice pack. Watching the other walk in front and up the stairs, he could see those colors fitting them well with that blond hair of theirs.

“I think those colors sound like they fit you well, I prefer autumny colors myself.” Keeping close, he tried to take everything in so he could maybe surprise them from time to time. He’d have to see how much space they had in their greenhouse before he got them any more plants though. He’d figure it out in time, see what they liked, and what would make them smile that smile that made his heart melt. That mention of espresso, maybe he’d figure out how to make it to get them to smile a bit more. There had been enough sadness for them both in the past month and he wanted to do something to help them and himself.

Stepping inside the room that they’d led him to, he wandered it slowly and carefully. Taking in each painting, he could see they had talent and it made him laugh a bit almost where their style lay. They’d mentioned rococo in the beginning but without him seeing their work he hadn’t been sure how much it leaned that way. They were beautiful in a more traditional way than his own work and so much larger. There hadn’t been the space to paint large things and with how often he wandered that little paint kit his governess had given him when she retired had been more than enough for him to work with.

Turning to look back at them, he couldn’t help but smile more even if it made his face hurt. It was worth the wait to see such gorgeous and pristine paintings. Each one left little bits and pieces that tied themselves to their artist, Alexandre. “Everything is gorgeous Alexandre, you really are an angel.” Laughing just a bit he walked back over to them and nudged them. “I can see why it might not have been easy to bring one over though, you have a lot of rather large canvases. At least mine are hand-sized.” Leaning against them he did wonder a bit more about some things. They’d run because of fear and maybe uncertainty so he’d just have to work with that and maybe try and show them things would be fine, give a bit more information for them to bite at.

“Rene Gastinne-Rennette is my full name it might clear a bit more up though I dropped the last bit when I came here. But I don’t mind answering questions too.” Pushing that out there a bit more for them so they would maybe take the bait. “My petit ange…” Another kiss on the top of their head as he stayed close and wrapped an arm about them. He could handle this, the normal problems and worries. The rest was too much to think about for now but he wanted to see more of Alexandre and learn what he could. All the hurt and tears from the past month where he lamented over knowing so little about the one he’d fallen for and now they were actually letting him get close and step past that line. There was still that fear that they’d slip between his fingers but he tamped it down with another sip of wine as he enjoyed feeling them against him.

“It’ll be fun, not that you have a bad selection but sometimes it isn’t all about what the reviews are or the price.” Another sip as his face continued to warm from it, it probably didn’t help that he hadn’t really eaten since before he’d gone to the bar the night before. It would be fine though, he had Alexandre here, and that made things better.

“Oh, the matched pair right? The other little doll that I saw that day with you at the museum, I remember you telling me a bit about her. Her studio must be pretty big if she works on restoration or conservation. It would be fun to see what you might do with a larger canvas.” A little laugh, a little more wine, as he moved the ice pack to his pocket so he could wrap his other arm around them too.

“You say that but I still think you are…” They’d come back and that's what he would focus on, that's what was the important part of things. Thinking of that uniform and the words about war he chuckled a bit into their hair after another kiss. “Maybe a bit more like a Valkyrie or Seraphim, one of those fighty ones but an angel nonetheless.”

“I am, though if you’ll find much is another matter.” Swaying with them from side to side, he traced his fingers over the fabric of their shirt where he knew their ink lay underneath. “Ivy… acanthus.. maybe blue roses. I always like the language behind them and then when I saw your tattoos that first time… I couldn’t help but want to know more. To find out a bit at a time if I could and I am sorry still if that was selfish of me.” Placing his glass down on one of the small little tables nearby, he came around to face them.

“I wouldn’t mind trying whatever you feel like making, I prefer baked goods, sweet or savory, but I also really want to try all sorts of other foods. I just know veal and venison don’t really sit well with me but I’m not sure why. And wine, always French though the type is really dependent on the food but I can let you know the ones I order from back home. I sneak a bit of red here and there to work, in that hydroflask of mine but don’t tell anyone because it’s a secret.” Teasing as he leaned down to give them a proper kiss, he was happy they were asking him things back. It felt like an exchange but a very different one than what they’d had before and he was alright with that.

“You don’t drink so maybe… what kind of things do you like to do? Places you like going?” Running his fingers down the side of their face, he really had missed seeing them. He’d keep asking about things that would give him ideas on what he could surprise them with or maybe do with them. They’d been right about there being a whole bunch more to explore in this country and he wanted to see what else he might get into with them coming along too.