|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 2:08 pm
If Julian hadn’t taken his hand to lead him towards the garage, Riker might have stared in confusion at Evan for a while longer. Why would Zac renovate another room for him? Just to show off that he could do it? Evan did say that Zac liked projects, so maybe it was just giving him an excuse to do more, but what did that have to do with him?
There were different thoughts that felt like they were sparking in his head at the same time, but the most appealing -- especially with Julian’s enthusiasm -- seemed too much like it couldn’t possibly be reality.
And yet, his ears still burned as he cast one last, questioning glance back at Evan, before disappearing behind the door to the garage-not-garage, and to the stairs that led up to the attic.
“At least this is mostly private,” he commented, mostly because he wasn’t sure how to pull his thoughts back to the present. “Does he know you can’t have a lot of cheese? At least without medicine? He looked through every ingredient he had in his food truck to make sure there was no coconut when I mentioned my allergy,” he shared, since he knew it was intimidating to admit to something that could inconvenience someone else.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 2:14 pm
“Um. Well, it hasn’t really come up. But I will,” he promised. “Evan’s mentioned the coconut, though. He said to be careful and let him know if anyone was baking anything with it. But I wasn’t sure if I was even allowed to use the kitchen. I’ll tell him,” he promised. There was no hesitation in his words; he wasn’t saying it just to appease Riker. Even if he was reluctant to become an inconvenience, he could at least be honest. And he was going to get his medicine anyway, so it probably wouldn’t even be a big deal. Hopefully.
The garage was such in name only; it seemed like it had been partially converted at some point. The floor was carpeted where it connected to the house and Julian’s stairs, and another strip that led to a set of stairs heading downward. Julian turned on the light as they entered. The room was air conditioned and well lit. There were stacks of boxes and half built shelves
Julian released his hand so he could guide Riker up the stairs; they went up along the wall and had a solid railing so there was no chance of falling over the side. The stairs were new, well built, and worth praise, and though the railing was sanded, it still needed to be stained. Julian didn’t have any complaints and hurried upstairs.
At the top of the stairs was an open door so Julian walked right inside and turned on the lights. There was a lot of space, and a window at the front of the house and the back. It was too dark for natural light, and the shutters at the front window were closed, anyway.
The room was somewhat sparsely decorated, like Julian was still settling in. His violin was in the corner. The furniture was all new and white, and he had a few shelves but the room was still coming together. Pale star stickers were on the ceiling, and his bed was neatly made. It probably wasn’t surprising that Julian kept everything organized. A television had been set up but didn’t look very used; it still had the plastic on the screen. The air was cool and the room was well lit, and that seemed like more than enough for Julian.
“See?” he insisted proudly. There was a lot of space–more than what he knew what to do with. “What do you think?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 2:17 pm
Riker chewed on the inside of his cheek, trying to keep himself from grinning too much, flattered that Evan would ask others to be careful with coconut. It was such a weird thing, probably. Especially since he didn’t know the others in the house very well, if at all, but coconut was becoming more and more popular as an alternative to other ingredients. He would definitely have to figure out a way to show Evan his appreciation.
He didn’t question Julian’s honesty about talking to Evan about cheese. He knew if Julian wasn’t going to talk to Evan, then he would just change the subject or somehow avoid saying anything too affirmative. Julian wasn’t much of a liar, Riker had noticed. But he was pretty good at omitting things. Which, he supposed, wasn’t much different than himself.
At the top of the stairs, Riker took a moment to look around, before nodding approvingly. And then holding out his arms so he could see just how much space there was, and was clearly, reluctantly, impressed.
“You’ve got so much room to do whatever you want, Jules! And since it’s separated from the rest of the house, I bet no one will be bothered if you practice your music,” he insisted, nodding to the violin case. “And if they are bothered, then Zac should have soundproofed the walls better.”
He was obviously just teasing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 2:18 pm
Julian laughed. “Soleiyu might. I bet his hearing is better than everyone else’s. I don’t know if I’ll play,” he admitted, but he looked at his violin thoughtfully. “It’s been a while. Sometimes I take it out and practice in the park but I don’t stay for very long. I don’t want anyone to think I’m busking. Oh, and I don’t want to ruin anyone’s time outside.”
It was difficult to find a quiet space at Hillworth; there never seemed to be enough empty rooms, and it wasn’t like the boys were trusted to be alone anyway. The dorms were so busy and too much noise meant making enemies with your neighbors.
He was still beaming with how much room he had. “I didn’t even think of that, though. Maybe I will play a little more. I’ll have to ask to make sure it won’t bother anyone.”
There were so many people in the house and it was still a lot of getting used to.
“But you’ll come over and visit, won’t you?” Evan had already insisted, so Julian wanted Riker to know they were both glad to have him over. “There’s enough room to spend the night if you ever want to. Maybe if we’re out patrolling late, or if we get some school project or something we can work on together.” Totally normal situations! “Or if you just need a break from home. And if there’s anything you want to leave over here, um–you can. I mean, for safekeeping. My dresser has one drawer that locks, you can have the key and use it for whatever you need.”
He knew Riker’s brother gave him a hard time, and with his mother being so unpredictable…
Well, Julian didn’t want to dwell on it or make a big deal out of it. He knew how important it was to have a safe space, and it was so much easier not to have to carry around your important things with you, everywhere you went, just to make sure that nobody got into it.
“They said I could decorate but I don’t even know where to start. And isn’t it too much? I mean, I’m going to be sixteen soon, I don’t know what my bedroom is supposed to look like. And I don’t know how long Talia wants to let me stay with her, but I don’t want to give them so much to get rid of if I’m leaving when I turn eighteen.” Although he probably wasn’t going to go to a college with a dorm or anything; he was just hoping he could get into the community college.
“I don’t really know how all of that stuff works. But the room is really nice! The lights don’t hurt my eyes. You can make them brighter or dimmer. And Soleiyu put in lights on the stairs, you can turn them on and off with the switch so you don’t have to worry about tripping when it’s dark. And the air conditioning is nice, it’s always comfortable here. And I like the bed, it’s the nicest one I’ve ever slept in. And the blankets are so soft. Talia got me extra,” he said, stepping over to the shelf full of them so he could brush his hand across the fuzziest one.
He was rambling a little but in the absence of personal decorations or design of his own, he was just happy at the surplus of practical features the room provided.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 2:21 pm
Once again, Riker felt like he was stunned into silence. His ears burned behind his hair, longer now than it had been when he’d first become a knight and met the most important people in his life. For Julian to offer him a space for his things just in case, and for him to be so vibrant and open about things--
It was as though Riker was getting to catch a glimpse of the real Julian. Not someone who hid behind doing whatever it took to make people happy, or to stay out of the way, or to be as small as possible. But someone with opinions and likes and dislikes and worries and hopes…
This wasn’t the first time he’d experienced it with Julian, but there were times that he wondered what he’d done to gain Julian’s trust, especially with how closed off he used to be.
It was nice. And it wasn’t something Riker ever wanted to break.
Which was why he was a little hesitant when he took a few steps forward so he could turn and sit on the bed, bouncing it a little -- just to test it out! -- and then flopping over onto his back to get comfortable. Normally, he would have made sure Julian was okay with him touching his things, but he’d just offered him a drawer that he could lock so his things would stay safe. And offered a place for him to sleep if he needed to escape.
“Ah, you’re right,” he sighed contentedly and closed his eyes after positioning his hands behind his head. “It is pretty comfortable. Oh… I don’t think I’ll be able to get up, though.”
The grin he was fighting made it obvious he was just joking. At least about being able to get up. But he was pretty comfortable and even closed his eyes for a few moments.
“Most leases are only for a year, aren’t they? So two years is a reasonable amount of time to make a place into something you like. Your room is supposed to be restful and make you feel safe. Are you allowed to paint or put up decorations? I can help reach the ceiling if you need me to! And if Soleiyu has a problem with your beautiful music being too loud, then maybe he should have supervised Zac’s sound proofing.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 2:24 pm
Julian smiled when Riker flopped on the bed, and there was more than enough room for him to shuffle over and sit down, too. He brought over the soft blanket he’d been petting and held it close to his stomach. He was sitting by Riker’s side, twisted so he could look at him while still stretching his legs out from where he sat.
He wouldn’t have minded if Riker didn’t want to get up for a minute, teasing or not.
“When you say things like that, it makes me want to practice more,” he laughed. “Especially because once you start learning, you’ll be able to hear all my mistakes, too.”
Riker might not point them out, though. Julian heard them, maybe because he was listening for them. Maybe it was a self-fulfilling prophecy.
“I guess that’s an interesting way of looking at the whole room thing. Although it’s not exactly a lease,” he hummed. “I think I could paint if I asked. But I’m okay with the walls how they are! I think they’re brand new. Did you see the stars on the ceiling? Talia put them up. They glow for like an hour after the lights go out. I’ve been trying to figure out if there’s a pattern or something to the way she put things up or if she just stuck them where she wanted to. I don’t want to ask, it’ll ruin the surprise.”
He could go to sleep looking at the stars and trying to figure out the answer to some puzzle that may or may not exist. It was better than losing out to the late night thoughts that sometimes rolled in.
“I’m allowed to put up decorations but I’ll have to ask if there’s anything they don’t want me to do, just in case. I looked at room decoration ideas but it all looks like so much! And I keep getting suggestions for 90s themed rooms. Like disco ball lights and fiber optic lamps and beanbags and plastic bead curtains. I like watching how everyone decorates their rooms online, though.” He just didn’t know what his style was, or if he was thinking about it too much. His room was fine how it was now! It was safe and comfortable, and it had everything he needed.
“Are you and Zac friends?” he asked suddenly. He still had a little smile on his face. “You and Evan both tease about him. I haven’t gotten to know him very well, I almost never see him around.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 2:27 pm
Riker snorted, clearly amused by the suggestion. He opened an eye to glance up at Julian, and pursed his lips together as if in thought.
“Nah, I’ve only met him, like… once. He’s important to Evan, and Evan is important to me, so I guess I just picked up on teasing him. That’s probably mean, though. I don’t think he’s a bad guy, but he obviously pretends like he doesn’t care when he does. Trust me, I know his type,” he laughed. “You could probably trust him to have your back, even if he huffs and grumpy about it. At least that’s the impression I get from Evan.”
He then removed one hand from behind his head so he could reach over and gently tug at Julian’s shirt to get him to lay back as well.
“I bet we could figure out some constellations, but you’ll hurt your neck if you look up without laying down,” he explained, because there was obviously a totally normal reason why he’d want him to lay down. Maybe just to relax some.
“I had some stars like that when I was little,” he nodded up at the ceiling. “A kid from school gave them out. Ah, but then my brother used them as darts, so I didn’t keep them for very long. Still have the scar on my arm though,” he grimaced, and held up his arm with his sleeve rolled down to show a tiny indent from where a plastic star had done some damage.
“You should definitely practice more, though,” he insisted with a nod. “I might get too distracted with how well you play to even hear your mistakes. You could always play for the Code on the Moon, if you can’t get to your Wonder,” he suggested with a little shrug. “Uh… I went there when I got hurt. I was being stubborn and didn’t accept its help so, uh… I guess it summoned Effie and Mary there.”
A little bit of omitted information from before, but it was fine, right?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 2:27 pm
When tugged, Julian obliged with no resistance. He flopped backwards so his head was resting near Riker’s. He continued to hug the folded blanket and pinched at the hem while petting the plush fabric. He looked at the stars for as long as Riker talked about them and nodded along until he mentioned his brother used them for darts, when he then tilted his head and winced at the scar.
“Do you think the Code would even want to hear music from me? I feel like I might be bothering it.” Although, didn’t it get lonely being up there all by itself?
He rolled onto his side so he could face Riker. Naturally, he took his opinions to heart. He trusted Riker, who trusted Evan, who trusted Zac. It wasn’t unlike trusting Talia, who trusted Zac and Evan.
Riker might have just been saying something to be nice, he was always so full of kind comments. Julian reached out to brush his thumb over the scar on his arm, like he couldn't believe such a little thing had done so much damage. “I don’t know if I’m brave enough to offer. I’ve heard it can be a little, um. Blunt.” Julian wasn’t always the best when it came to people giving the cold, hard truth–and the Code, in all its years? It must have heard a million talented musicians. Even the last Knight of Dering had to have been a musician, why else would he have had a lute?
“Have you been back up to see it since then? I mean, since it called up Effie and Mary.” Which he was glad for, judging from what he’d heard about all of it. Neither Elliot nor Atticus had even so much had mentioned Riker had ever been over, much less that he’d been hurt. He hoped that meant that Riker would tell them if he ever got hurt again, if he knew he could trust him. Maybe Julian would try to figure out if he could learn first aid or something, too. Soleiyu had all those first aid supplies, and Talia had healing magic, so if Riker ever got hurt...
He had to pull his thoughts to the very real present and not the hypothetical future. He didn’t know how much longer he’d have to talk before Evan was calling them down for dinner.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 2:29 pm
He held still when Julian reached out to touch the scar on his arm. He didn’t mind. Not from Julian at least. Not from his other friends, either. Although he was certain Maisie would try to pour literal salt in any open wound, just because. Okay, maybe not but he was allowed to be cautious.
“I think the Code would appreciate the company. It didn’t kick me off the Moon when I was-- uh… I kind of said some mean things,” he winced at himself. “I mean… I thought the same as you. I’m just another cog in the machine that could easily be replaced. It just wanted to make sure I wasn’t ruining the Moon by bleeding everywhere. Why bother with trying to make sure I’m okay when there were others who were more useful and-- Oh… wait, not like that,” he quickly backtracked, hopefully before Julian got upset.
Riker shifted a little and turned onto his side as well, propping up his head on his hand a little.
“I meant, like… in the whole-- you know-- with everything and everyone in the universe for all time, a single knight is just a speck of sand on a beach. At least to something that is, uh, I guess eternal like the Code. I promise I don’t mean that, like… now. I know I matter to you, and you matter to me, and our friends and family matter. But why would a magical entity care, you know? Anyway… the whole point of that is, uh… I think it would like some company every now and then. I think it would probably be proud to see knights as they grow and learn and, uh… yeah,” he mumbled awkwardly, because his interaction with the Code was a lot more argumentative than he really felt. But it was like that for most authority figures, anyway.
“And if it doesn’t like your music, then it has horrible taste and doesn’t know anything about music anyway.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 2:30 pm
The corner of Julian’s lip twitched into a smile by the time Riker had stopped speaking.
“I don’t know, I think the Code would have–objectively!–a better idea of good music than me. But thank you, Riker. That was very sweet. I’m really glad the Code called them up for you.”
He wasn’t upset by what Riker said. There were a ton of Knights, weren’t there? It was hard to feel special in the presence of some ancient entity like the Code. He knew it was there to help and guide them but it was easy to feel intimidated and small and irrelevant. He knew each Knight had an individual purpose, and maybe one of them alone wasn’t a big deal, but all of them? That had to mean something.
Julian regularly felt inferior or unimportant but it didn’t deter him from trying his hardest. He didn’t have to be special to try and do a good job.
“I want to think it’s because it does care about us all. Even if there are a lot of us. I don’t need it to know me in particular–actually, that’s kind of a scary thought. I like not being in the spotlight. It’s so much less pressure. But you know, if the Code wanted you gone, it probably could have just kicked you out. Or called up people you didn’t know. But if it called Elliot and Atticus over, do you think that means it knows that we’re friends and it was trying to help? …I don’t know, maybe they were just already on the Moon so it was easier. I’d like to think it’s because it does pay attention and care about us. In its own way. Even if that is a little bit of a scary thought, maybe it’s nice to think that it would help any of us if we need it.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 2:31 pm
“Or,” Riker continued with a grimace, “The Code is playing favorites. I mean, they are Moon Knights!”
He was teasing of course. Even if he made faces about it, he didn’t have anything against Elliot or Atticus. He was grateful that they were not only quick to help him, but apparently kept his secret for him. Not that he thought he would have minded if Julian had been told but still.
There was a moment that he paused and glanced thoughtfully up at the plastic stars again, before back at Julian. As much as he was prickly about things, Riker knew the Code did want to help them, especially when they needed it.
“Did you know that Knights can have a, like… headquarters to go to and hang out? I asked Elliot about it since he’s a know-it-all. Anyway, he was going to look into it more but, well, that could be interesting, right? A place for all of us to hang out that isn’t just the Moon? I mean, I’d like to bring everyone to Ganymede, but I’d have to make sure Evie and I could handle it. I bet that could be a great place for us to practice music, if you’re worried about bothering people, or don’t want to use up all your time you have to visit Dering.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 2:32 pm
If the Code was playing favorites, it must have been for Riker since it went out of its way to call him help! Julian didn’t offer the thought, but only because he found himself perplexed and interested in the sudden, new topic.
“I didn’t know that,” Julian answered. He propped himself up in a way that he could mimic Riker’s pose and give him his full attention. He didn’t think Elliot was a know-it-all but he smiled slightly because he knew that wasn’t Riker’s attempt at an insult, either. “I bet Reims has amazing acoustics, we should play there sometime. But I wouldn’t want you to use all your time and energy on that!”
They could probably go in circles with that sort of talk though.
“It would be interesting if we had some sort of headquarters, though. Thought sounds really official and fancy. If you or Elliot finds out more, will you let me know? I’d like to have a place where all of us could hang out. I like the Moon. And Ganymede. And Lysithea. But I know it’s such a drain even on Elliot and Atticus when there’s so many of us going over at once. I’d like to find a way to pull my weight and help out.” Or at least be less of a drain on everyone else.
“How did you find out about Headquarters, do you know anything else about it?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 4:54 pm
“The Code mentioned it,” Riker shared, and rolled his eyes because what else could he do? “When I got hurt, I couldn’t go to Reims since I’d just been there, so I went to where the Code is on the Moon. I mean. Sort of. I didn’t want to bother it so I stayed out of that room, but then it magicked me in there with it. Wondered why I went there instead of to the Headquarters for our brigade or whatever.”
In retrospect, it probably would have been a very bad thing had he gone to Reims, or any other place that could have been vacant for a long time. He hadn’t realized how bad his injury was until Ephesus and Amarynthos started working on getting him patched up.
“If we do end up with some kind of Headquarters, we should see about… I don’t know. If the Code or -- Soleiyu? -- or that cat that lives with Elliot or whatever -- Set up some kind of alert or something. You know. In case someone goes there and needs help.”
He shrugged heavily at his own idea. He wasn’t good when it came to asking for help, and there might be times that he or someone else wouldn’t be able to ask for help, so an alert seemed like a reasonable thing. He supposed. Unless it was too much, then he would just hope someone showed up before bleeding out next time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 5:32 pm
Julian nodded intently. “I think that’s a really good idea. We should ask.”
He didn’t know Soleiyu that well but he had already been bestowed ‘trivial’ gifts. To Soleiyu, they were trinkets. Nothing of great value, if only because he didn’t consider them particularly impressive or difficult to make. To Julian, it felt like he was holding a small fortune in his hand every time he pulled out his phone, or any of the other little things Soleiyu had already given him.
He knew the cat that ‘lives with Elliot’ even less, though he’d heard stories from him and Atticus. If nothing else, he was at least comfortable talking to Atticus about it and seeing where it went.
“If you’d promise to use it,” he amended. He smiled, hoping that Riker would understand he was teasing. He knew Riker was stubborn and still seemed like he was very reluctant to let too many people get too close. “I think it’s a good idea to try and be prepared for the worst case scenario. Does the Code think everyone is in some sort of official group?”
There were plenty of people that seemed to come and go. He felt like he always saw some of the same faces when he showed up. He was sure that they might have even gotten out to do things more often than he did. A silly thought popped into his head though, because while he considered all of them a functioning group, he wondered if they thought the same about him. Riker wouldn’t have been telling him if he didn’t though, right?
“Can I be in the official group? If there is one?”
He didn’t know why he suddenly felt anxious. He didn’t think he was as important as any of the others, or as good at anything as they were, but he didn’t want to be one of the ‘others’ that showed up every now and then. He wanted to be able to support them and help out however he could.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 5:33 pm
The request took him by surprise, but he did his best not to let it show in his expression. He didn’t want Julian to think that he was wrong for asking, and Riker was certainly proud of him for making sure he was a part of something.
“Absolutely,” Riker decided to say after a moment, offering Julian a warm smile. “Although I’m sure the others would argue that there was never a question about that. I’d never question it, either,” he promised.
He could see the anxiety in Julian’s expression. It wasn’t exactly like he was good at hiding his concern when his eyebrows did the thing they did.
And for that, Riker couldn’t help himself but to lean the couple inches closer to place a quick kiss over one. He wasn’t teasing him! He thought it was kind of endearing, although he hoped he wasn’t getting too obnoxious with the touches. Julian didn’t seem like he was upset about it. At least not the couple times before.
“I promise I’ll use it. Will you come running to my side for a splinter?” he teased, taking a moment to gently tuck some of Julian’s hair behind his ear.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
