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 Posted: Sun May 19, 2024 7:41 pm
He’d been thinking about it for a while now, almost since it had happened, but more and more he’d been thinking about the issue of an apology to Aloysius. He did owe him one, and some sort of explanation as well, but what to get him to go with that apology which he owed him? Normally he was good with gift giving but that was always for family members, people he knew well, he didn’t know the other as well as he’d like.
When he’d come home, knowing Rene was likely to already be in the house, he’d unlaced his shoes and set them aside as he padded into the house calling out for the other. “Rene.” The other was spending more time over, more nights and more days, it was all time savored by the blond as the time was filled with far more mundane things as they had the time for such things.
Having been out shopping, picking up some things from the grocery store, he wasn’t surprised to see a letter had arrived. It was one he was expecting and he grabbed that up as he headed into the kitchen to look for his partner, the shopping bag hanging off his left shoulder and bumping his hip as he walked.
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Posted: Sun May 19, 2024 7:44 pm
René had closed up shop and arrived at Alexandre’s in good time, though the house was empty when he got there so he went about his usual after-work shower and was working on drying his hair when he heard the door and his name being called. Pulling on some lounge pants he kept the towel as he worked on his hair while making his way down the stairs. “Alexandre, how was your day? Were you out at the store or did you have to do something in person for your graduation prep?” He remembered there were only a few months left, at least he thought so there would probably be some sort of last-minute things with an advisor before they graduated.
Once in the kitchen, he sat and finished scrubbing his hair dry. Pulling the towel away it was sort of a mess but it would always dry straight, sort of a blessing sort of a curse in a way since it got stringy sometimes in the summer or winter. “Oh, a letter?”
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Posted: Sun May 19, 2024 7:45 pm
“Grocery shopping, I prefer to do it late at night.” Though he did prefer closer to closing time, less people and the workers were putting new things out, it kept him form dealing with lots of people and carts in the way. “My day was good though, slow for the most part, things are mostly ready for that. I really don’t have to do much. I wasn’t planning on going to the ceremony to be honest. I figure I’ll just turn up and have them give me the diploma and be done with it. I didn’t like graduation from highschool or the college graduation the first time around.”
Offering the other the letter. “For you more than me…though it’s addressed to me.” Inside he’d gotten two tickets to a small local winery and a taste testing of their wines. It was all local, a small family owned vineyard, but he thought the other might like it. Plus it would be supporting something local.
“I was hoping you might be able to help me with figuring out a gift to give someone as an apology. I’m normally good at gift giving but I’m not sure what says I’m sorry for almost breaking your door down, teleporting into your home, challenging you into a sparring match in your yard, and doing this all late at night.” So he might have also interrupted things…or woken them up. That was impossible to tell and he wasn’t sure he wanted to know.
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Posted: Sun May 19, 2024 7:46 pm
“Makes sense, less traffic both on the road and in the store. Never had to deal with it much before since I just ordered delivery for each meal.” Throwing the towel over the back of his chair he got up to see about helping put groceries away. The sentiment about graduation was understandable as well, he’d not really liked his own graduation either but that was for a different reason altogether he figured. “That’s alright maybe we can go out to eat instead that night, invite your mother, and do something small?” He’d been looking for an excuse to invite the other’s mother over or out so he could hear more gossip about his little blonde and maybe see a few older photos of them. It was always a nice surprise with them and he really liked the woman.
Taking the letter, he opened it and looked at the tickets with a smile. “Oh, that’ll be fun though you don’t really drink. I hope maybe they have some small plates or something you’d like there too?” It was something else to do and a new area of the city to explore, something he really liked doing because when things got stagnant he felt more flighty on some things. At least never with Alexandre specifically but mostly with restaurant choices and his constantly cycling closet of clothing.
The next comment had him staring almost dumbfounded at the blond as the dots connected to something Katya had said months back. “You showed up at Chalcanthite’s house, just barged in, and started a fight didn’t you?” Shaking his head at the comment of it being late at night he sighed. “How would you like it if we got interrupted while we were busy with things.” To him that was the worst crime that could be committed by any human or animal. “It was when you’d run wasn’t it? At least from how Katya introduced me to him. I apologized to him that night but yes, you need to do something about that.”
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Posted: Sun May 19, 2024 7:46 pm
No, he didn’t drink but he knew the other did and he was certain there would be something he could nibble. Maybe he’d actually try a glass of wine? It wasn’t like he hadn’t drank before, he could count the times on one hand and have fingers still left over, but he knew the other would like the idea and enjoy it. He might even find a bottle he’d like and purchase.
“Yeah, we’d been separated and I dragged him into the match. Mind you he won, pulled out a rapier which he never had before, but I also was not doing my best either. He did pin me to the ground till I managed to calm myself enough to behave. I do owe him a gift, of some sort, as you said. I want to know how he got a secondary weapon and I doubt he’ll tell me unless I’ve managed a proper apology. I can say the words and all, that’s easy, but a gift might be a good idea as well. I just don’t know what to get him.” Trailing off he nodded his head a bit then, looking away as he unpacked some of the groceries.
“Maybe, his partner was with him. A blond who I hear is a dark mirror senshi…they were in bed clothing when they came outside to watch things.” Melody had been there also but he didn’t mention that, she had likely gotten a good show of what her brother could be and could do. “I mean he could have gotten angry and dumped me in mirrorspace and left me there….Though Remarque or Acubens would have found me at some point and let me out. Though maybe not Acubens…being pregnant and all that. But he didn’t look pleased, not with Chalcanthite coughing and an appointment with Lorcan being arranged. Mirrorspace is interesting though….but boring. I imagine Acubens, if she found out I messed with one of her senshi’s partners, would have been more scary than either of the other two. Pregnant and all that…not to mention senshi of raptors…not the birds but the other raptors. I don’t think she’d revoke uncle rights to the child though….” Trailing off in thought, back to Rene, as he loaded the fridge with things.
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Posted: Sun May 19, 2024 7:47 pm
Another sigh and he almost for a moment as if he was feeling how Lorcan felt at times with Alexandre. “He’s good with it, I saw him use it on the senshi he stepped in to handle when Katya and I were cornered and my magic had backfired. Does he have a second weapon? I thought it was just the rapier, at least that’s all I’ve seen him with. Though more often than not when we spoke about things it was in a more relaxed setting with a lot of reading of reports on things.” Usually at an odd little rooftop garden that the general seemed to like.
“Well I feel a bit… odd about someone else pinning you down but you were in the wrong. I would’ve sided with their partner probably if they threw you into mirrorspace. It doesn’t hurt, right? At least not from what they told me.” The mention of coughing and seeing Lorcan didn’t help the other’s case but he started to think things through as he leaned back in the chair.
“Maybe something for them both, since you stirred things up for Chal and also apparently did something to them that bothered their partner. I know you wouldn’t be even remotely pleased if I got hurt so how do you think they felt? As for what to get… I know Chal has some sort of thing with music and youma but I really don’t know anything outside of that about him. Only what bit between the work on figuring out the kinks in my magic and some additional information about the mirror side of things that wasn’t in the training guide. I’ve never met or heard of their partner so I wouldn’t know where to begin on that.”
That mention of uncle privileges and someone pregnant, he’d heard just the smallest bit when he was getting x-rayed in Lorcan’s office a few weeks back but otherwise he really didn’t know much about it since it hadn’t come up with how busy things had gotten fixing his magic and getting used to the new commute to his shop since it added over an hour a day to things.
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Posted: Sun May 19, 2024 7:55 pm
“His original weapon is a bow and arrows, it suits him as he prefers to keep his distance in a fight.” Whereas he did like some range it was not nearly as much, he wasn’t much for close-in fighting as he could ill afford to be caught given the usual size difference between himself and others.
“No, mirrorspace doesn’t hurt, it’s just all white…the walls and the ceiling and the floor. It’s an all-white space with nothing else there.” Which he thought might be a good way to deal with the court's enemies…toss them in and leave them. They’d go mad and then would no longer be an issue. They might die of shock upon reentering the normal world even.
Seating himself he stared up at the other and smiled. “Chalcanthite is from a well-off family, but very small, his family is known for producing some of the best quality stringed instruments. It’s where they got their fame and they continue the tradition even now. It’s why I had my grandmother hire him and his sister to teach music to the younger children in the family - private lessons in group format.” Which likely would tell Rene who they were, though he did wonder if he knew the Sharp family name…he very well might. They had come from Europe not too many generations back and had the money and prestige to have them noticed throughout Europe. “His other half I don’t know much on personally, I’m sure I could find out though, and perhaps a group gift would be good…as you suggested.” For the exact reason Rene had suggested it.
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Posted: Sun May 19, 2024 7:56 pm
“So it’s not something standard is it?” It felt a bit odd that his partner who was more the type to get into a fight didn’t have that option but he didn’t really know why. It wasn’t something he really needed to know when it came down to it since he was a senshi. At least mirrorspace sounded less dangerous than the Rift did, he still didn’t like the idea of it and all those youma though the way Chalcanthite talked of them made him wonder at least a bit more about the things.
His eyes fell onto the other as they explained a bit about the other general and dots started to connect and his face fell more. Pressing a hand to his forehead he cursed as he got an idea and hoped it was wrong. “Don’t tell me he’s Aloysius Sharp and his sister is Melody Sharp… Poor guy having someone like that as a sister. I wonder if she’s as terrible to him as she is to everyone else.” He’d hated that woman and how they’d followed him around and tried to sink their nails into his money. Everything had been superficial and he knew he was getting played when around her, even after he’d made it clear he wasn’t interested.
“I can maybe see about talking with them, though I’m not really sure. But we can figure something out, a gift might not work as well as a favor or something but as to what I really don’t know. But really Alexandre, we both were a mess that month weren’t we?” Leaning forward, he pulled them in close and rested his chin on their head. “I love you but you really are a bit much sometimes.” It was more a tease than a scolding but he was sure he could help them figure it all out. After all, Chal seemed to be all too eager to assist with things when it came to his stabilization and talking so maybe they weren’t as crazy as their sister.
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Posted: Sun May 19, 2024 7:57 pm
“No, it’s not standard. I’m not sure how he managed two weapons but I do want to know.” Which meant apologizing, not that he didn’t owe the man an apology, but he just needed to figure out how to apologize properly.
Smiling he let one of his hands come to rest on one of Rene’s hands, leaning back into his partner. “You got it in one. Aloysius Sharp is Chalcanthite and his sister is a corrupt like yourself. Yes, I’m fairly certain she’d like to see her brother dead so she could take control over the family and it’s holdings. She would do well with it, I’m certain of it, she cares about the family name and wouldn’t tarnish it. But her loyalty to family, at least her brother, leaves something to be desired. I do hope when she marries into my family she learns a bit more about family loyalty.” Because he knew she’d wind up marrying into his family…it was a matter of who and when.
Turning in the other's arms he reached up, letting a hand rest on Rene’s shoulder. “Please, if you can help me figure something out. Even if it’s a favor I don’t mind. I do owe him a good deal for my poor showing that night…normally I’m far more put together and calm.” He could handle a fight, with a battle going on around him, and not lose his cool. That night, and that whole month really, he’d not been in the best shape. “You do like to tell me that fairly often, I think you like that I’m a bit much. But yes, that month we were both a mess…I just went about handling myself differently from you. I went and nearly banged someone's door down.” Leaning up on tip toes he pressed a quick kiss to the other's lips before lowering himself, and turning back around.
“Now, we should figure out dinner.”
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Posted: Sun May 19, 2024 7:58 pm
“I see, maybe I could ask him a bit about it as well. I feel like he’s the type to talk about research and things… the notes he gave me on stabilization were enough to drive me mad. Katya helped me get through them otherwise I would probably still be puking every time I even thought of my magic.”
He cringed a bit at getting things right but even more so because of the fact that Melody was a corrupt senshi just like him. “Merde…. He really did get the short end of the stick when it came to his sibling. Might be a good idea to make sure she doesn’t, you know, kill him? What….” Staring at the other in disbelief as they turned to face him.
“Oh no, she’s digging her way into your family? I’m not sure I like the sound of that, not one bit. She won’t just be showing up here, will she? I like your family, especially your mother but I don’t really want Melody around. But…. I guess you don’t know about all that do you?” Coughing a bit uncomfortably as he looked away. “Another time I can explain but we can figure something out for Aloysius… maybe a bulletproof vest…”
The kiss pulled him back in and he nodded. “Well, you came back for me, and look how much better things are my petit ange? Something warm for dinner, maybe stew again?” Sure there had been some hiccups but things were overall much better now.
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Posted: Sun May 19, 2024 7:58 pm
“She won’t just be turning up at my home, I doubt she’s the sort to do that unless need be anyway.” She wasn’t about to try and take Rene either, especially not when there was a bigger offer on the table. Someone who was interested in her just needed to be found…his grandmother was working on that. “I think she needs to learn the meaning of family…” Shrugging a bit as he spoke. “Maybe she will in time. Aloysius did get the short end of the stick. He’ll wind up adopted into the family, in a manner of speaking, once she marries in. We tend to adopt in family once someone marries in.” They took other families under their wing and protection, offering what they could as means to help them and such.
It was perhaps generous, too generous some might think, but they weren’t going to let a family members own family fail or fall - it wouldn’t look good. It wasn't something to be allowed, to let someones family fall.
“So you’ll help me come up with a way to apologize, to them both?” He asked, hopeful, already moving away from Rene to get what he’d need for stew…including the large dutch oven they’d need. “Stew sounds good.” It always sounded good when it was cold or wet outside, that was when he liked hearty warm foods the most. “Help me with cutting things?”
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Posted: Sun May 19, 2024 8:27 pm
Sighing in relief at the fact Melody wouldn't just be showing up, he followed along and pulled out what he needed to help Alexandre. Even if he couldn't cook, he was pretty good at cutting veggies.
"That's a bit of a high hope mon ange, but you're stubborn enough to try. I do like the idea of Aloysius around more, I never did get a chance to go to one of their recitals. I heard rumors going on about why they hadn't had any recently but I never put two and two together that he was involved in all the magic." It wasn't something he'd even imagined being as the reason but then again he was still new to a lot of things. Or at least he wanted to say that even though he already made it to a promotion.
Being careful, he chopped some of the veggies and set them aside for Alexandre as he thought about things that could be done to help with this problem. "Of course I'll help you, this is something I'm much better at dealing with compared to all the fighting and magic. But I still find it funny you did such a thing, hopefully, you won't going bothering them like that again now that I'm here?" Teasing a bit as he pointed a carrot at them.
"We should be able to get something figured out so you can ask him your question though I'm more inclined to keep him on our good side since he really does help me out a lot when you can't. Not that I don't want your help mon ange, just sometimes I need to ask questions and he has... extremely detailed notes."
He still got a headache just thinking about all the things they'd told him in such a short time period, it was one hell of an infodump and it made sense now that he knew they were a professor and a performer outside of their position as a general. The man could just... talk at you if you let him and it was hard not to let him at times. Chuckling to himself, he went back to cutting things for his partner as he watched them wander around the kitchen getting things ready to cook.
"Stew will be good then we can have some fun before we sleep, the shop is closed tomorrow since I need to do some inventory and make a trip to the customs depot. You can come along if you want and then Katya can cover us while we move some things around."
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