The way Grey's eyes crinkled and the wave of amusement he felt from him made Declan duck his head, slightly embarrassed for some reason. He didn't feel stupid or anything, it was just... he did that and made Grey feel that way and it just made him bashful.
"Sure. I was in Steel Magnolias and ironically, the Crucible. I didn't get cast as often because I had some commitments to the coven and my training after school but I did okay." He had been slightly bothered by it at the time, like he had gotten snubbed but he got over it after awhile. It made sense even if it took him awhile to see that.
"I liked theater because it was fun," he explained with a smile. "I liked books because I could escape into them. I knew my emotions were my own in books, not something I picked up from everyone around me."
It was fond amusement. Declan's passion for it was adorable. It was another side of him that Grey hadn't known about. There would a lot of them to discover along the way.
He nodded at the explanation about time constrains. It was different where he grew up. But everything was bigger in America. That was just how it was.
"Were you any good?" he asked with that same fond amusement. He could see Declan would be. He was so aware of emotions of other people that he probably would know how to portray them.
"And what's your favourite book?" He had meant what Declan said. That books were silent and it would be easy to reflect on them because of that. But he just nodded and didn't point that out. Because there was no point for the continuation of the conversation.
"I was amazing!" He puffed his chest out, raised his chin and did his best to look like an arrogant theater bastard which he had kind of been when he was younger. He couldn't maintain it for long and deflated with a laugh. "I was good for a high school kid but you notice I didn't try to make a career out of it."
It had been fun and he liked acting but it wasn't a grand passion for him. Besides, an empath in the cut throat world of movies or Broadway would be a horrible idea. He would just die slowly inside from the misery of it all.
"Uh, that's hard. I don't know. That kind of depends on my mood, but I like stories with happy endings." He rubbed his hand through his hair. "Kind of hopeless like that."
"You could have been useful to the producers, predicting whether it's going to make it or not," Grey suggested with a hint of a curve upon his mouth. He was joking, obviously. It didn't work like that, he knew.
He leaned forward then, his coffee gone. He put the cup away and propped his elbow on the table, dropping his chin to a palm and looked at Declan. It would be hard to pick a favourite book. All the hard questions.
"Well, some favourites then?" he urged. The happy ending part didn't surprise him at all, actually. It was just the kind of vibe he had from Declan.
He laughed at Grey's suggestion, leaning back in his chair and throwing his head back. It was the funniest use of his powers he had heard in a long, long time. Then he was forward again when he stopped laughing and kissed Grey. He hadn't asked if that was okay in public, if Grey wanted him to but he was so cute and so interested in him that Declan couldn't resist.
"Much Ado About Nothing, I could read that a hundred times and never get tired of it," he said when he drew back, watching Grey closely to see if he was mad or not. "But I can say the same for The Big Easy and anything by Langston Hughes."
There was no anger, definitely, maybe a hint of surprise at first but then just a tilt of Grey's head and a press of his lips as he leaned into the kiss.
His eyes were softer when Declan leaned away, following him with that gaze. Where all this was going, Grey had no idea but he loved every second of it.
"I imagine you don't much like Hemingway," he said slowly reached over the table, taking his sweet time with it as he took Declan's hand in his, playing with his fingers.
"He has his moments. He's written some beautiful lines," he said as he watched Grey with curiosity. He wasn't expecting the other man to pick up his hand and play with it, like it was interesting. It was just a hand, almost exactly like his other one. "But overall I find him just a little too macho, you know?"
Wherever this was going, Declan was along for the ride. All the way to Warsaw at the very least but a part of him really wanted to keep going. He wanted to follow this thing with Grey until it solidified or crashed and burned. It was a little scary to be that invested already.
"I liked some of his books," Grey said with a tilt of his head. "Some I couldn't finish. Farewell to Arms I had to put down eventually. But I liked The Old Man and the Sea."
Perhaps if it had been longer, he would have gotten bored with it, too.
"I think we're done here," he said and nodded at their empty cups and plates. "What do you still need? I'm good with the grocery store visit." He just needed some coffee, lube and more condoms.
"Oh, I'm good. I've got what I need." He hadn't realized that he was just sitting there talking with Grey. He had forgotten they had originally gone out to run errands and get some real food. He was so eager to have Grey know more about him, so eager to share, he kind of blocked out the rest of the world.
He gathered their trash together and tossed it away. They were off again, Declan staying next to Grey. This time he felt comfortable enough to reach out and take his hand, tangling their fingers together. Because why not? If Grey didn't want it, he'd pull away but so far he had only reached out while they were out.
They could be any other couple on a date and it kind of felt like one. A slightly abnormal date but still, it was nice. "I did like Old Man and the Sea. The whole respect thing between the fisherman and the fish at the end was deep."
There was a hand in his and Grey held onto it firmly. He let Declan lead them once they got out, finding the escalators and settling on them while they went down. Declan came to his eye level standing on a step above him. His mouth curved just a little as he leaned in to kiss him.
"I know, that's why I liked the book," he said after leaning away. "Do you have a favourite genre of literature?" They were still going at it, just while walking.
Grey had so very, very few dates that he had no idea if this was normal or not for one of those occasions. But from a bird's eye perspective, they could have been a normal couple. He kind of felt special somehow, though. Maybe it was just him being silly.
So, Grey's eyes were pretty intense. Declan hadn't gotten a really good look at them given Grey's height and the few times they were level before had been intense or passionate moments. He could get really used to looking at them, especially if it led to kisses.
"Poetry," he answered without hesitation. Other people might be embarrassed by that but Declan did not care who knew it. He loved poetry. It showed the power of words whether something epic or short. "I have read so much poetry. Wrote some really, really shitty stuff in high school too."
This was special. Declan didn't know how or why exactly but he knew he'd never have another experience quite like this if he and Grey ended up parting ways after Warsaw. He leaned slightly into Grey when they got off the escalators, happy to be right where he was. That was a rare feeling for him. He was always restless it seemed like. He wasn't walking with Grey like this.
That's what people often said, that he looked intimidating. Grey didn't really see it. It was how he had always looked, even as a child. But as long as Declan didn't cover back in fear, Grey was okay with it.
"What about it you like so much?" he asked as he picked up a basket and guided them into the grocery store.
First there were fruits and vegetables, Grey went for a bag of apples. They'd be a nice snack for the train ride, a lot better than something sweet and full of unnecessary ingredients.
Declan seemed a lot easier in the city. He smiled more. There was a spring in his steps. Grey was happy just watching him most of the time, trailing behind him.
Maybe if he didn't know Grey like he did it might be intimidating. He was big, stone faced, and quiet. Someone else, someone not sensitive, would probably run the other way. Declan just wanted to get close.
"Good poetry sticks with you, you know?" He turned around to walk backwards when Grey walked behind him. "You might not remember the whole thing but you remember the line and it makes you feel."
After being isolated for so long actually being around other people helped recharged him. Even with all the psychic noise around him, the city gave him a boost, energy. He also had great company, the lingering pleasure of sex echoing through him, and the promise of more. That really helped a man.
"It's also got a rhythm to it and that helps me focus."
"I know," Grey replied with a small hum. "Most of my magic is reciting poetry, you know." Or singing it when he felt like it.
There was something awfully fond in his eyes as he followed Declan. He didn't even care where they were going. Eventually they'd find their way to the coffee aisle. He wasn't in a hurry.
"The spell singing has a few rules. There's front heavy rhyming and a certain sort of rhythm that you need to follow. I could translate you some one day if you like."
"Baby, if you start singing I'm not going to be held responsible for my actions," he teased, stopping in front of Grey to pop up on his tiptoes and kiss him. "Unless you're into that sort of thing."
He winked and turned around, following his nose to the coffee isle. Declan liked all sorts of coffee so he started to browse the aisle.
"I wouldn't mind learning more about how it works," he said, glancing over at Grey. "I've never seen magic like yours. The singing magic I've seen has always been heavily ritualized. Yours just... it's you. It's fascinating."
Declan was like quicksilver at times. He came close with easy affection and then bounced away like a rubber ball. Grey found that he didn't mind that at all. He leaned into that kiss but it was gone before it even started and he just followed after Declan to the coffees and snorted in amusement at his observations.
"If it's that easy, I might sing all the time," he said jokingly as he aimed for a dark roast and dropped a pack of it into the basket he was carrying.
"There are rituals. A lot of rituals. They're just pretty down to earth." Second nature to Grey. "But a lot of it is also improvised and made up on the spot because there just isn't a lot that you can practice. What brought it to my mind though, is that the whole Finnish folk lore is pretty much told in poems. The holy book of Finnish religion is a collection of poem verses."
Grey wouldn't be the first person to call him mercurial. Maybe it was a psychic thing. It could also be Declan. This wasn't a life or death situation anymore. He could be a little goofy without it putting their lives at risk.
"Do you have any English translations?" he asked as he picked up the pack of coffee and sniffed it. Not bad. He put it back in the cart and headed towards the pharmaceutical aisles in the back of the store. They needed way more supplies. Declan also needed toothpaste and a new toothbrush.
"I'm also interested in epic poetry. If you've got the English translations I'd love to read them." He grinned at Grey. "If you read them to me I'm just going to jump you and we'll never get through them."
"I can look for one." Kalevala had been translated to a lot of languages. It lost a lot in the translation, though. The whole front rhymed system went right out of the window with the translation and the rhythm and the beat and the soul of the whole thing. It was something you read aloud, like a British eulogy has a melody, so does Finnish poetry.
He grabbed a couple of bottles of water on their way. He didn't trust the tap water in Riga and probably would trust it even less in Warsaw. Purification spell would only make it safe, not taste nice.
"I suppose there's a reason to read some for you," he said casually while dropping a fat tube of lube into the basket and fishing a pack of condoms from the shelf too.
Declan licked his lips as he watched Grey so casually grab what they needed. He was jumping him as soon as they got back to the hotel room. He walked up to Grey and walked his fingers up his chest, "Think you can read to me while I'm blowing you?"
He winked Grey then turned around and walked away. It looked like they had everything they needed so he headed towards the check out. Teasing Grey felt like the best sort of dangerous. How far could he push this man before he snapped? Declan shivered at the idea.
This trip was turning into one of the best he had ever taken.
Grey's gaze was heavy on Declan while he walked those fingers up his chest, watching him quietly. They would have to suffer through some food before they could get back and fuck each other senseless. Grey wasn't really sure if they could manage that. He was seriously considering takeout...
He slapped Declan's ass in a casual sort of way when he turned to walk away, then lifted his brows if Declan would turn to look.
"I think I can recite some from memory," he said, following Declan to the register.
He sucked in a quick breath at the slap to his ass, surprised at Grey's actions. He had to stop underestimating this man's boldness. Even though he was quiet and controlled, there was a lot to him that Declan was learning about as they flirted back and forth.
"I think takeout sounds good," he said, grinning at Grey. He could feel the slight frustration, mixing with desire and it was exactly what he was going for. It was a whole lot of fun riling up Grey. He felt more confident, more bold, with Grey because the response was always positive. Not once had been told to turn it down or stop. It was freeing.
"Maybe we should ask a local for a recommendation?"
some stupid drama and things I'd rather not deal with. So I locked the posts.
Grey was quiet and controlled because he knew he needed to be. With power came responsibility and he wasn't even joking about it. One day he'd tell Declan why. Today wasn't that day.
Today was awfully playful and he was not quite smiling more than he had for so many years he didn't even know when had been the last time. Declan was adorable, all the way to his surprised gasps to those grins and obvious teasing.
He loaded up his loot to the register and stared down the guy who was giving him the stink eye. Yeah, no, not asking this jackass anything.
"What're you in the mood for?" he asked while packing away his purchases into his backpack.
Declan very deliberately put his arm around Grey's waist and leaned into him while they were rung up. The guy didn't like it? Too bad. He wouldn't hide what he was and what his preferences were. Given the world they lived in, this asshole could get all worked up over it and have his night ruined. Declan didn't care.
"You are not a food option, so that'll have to wait," he mused, rubbing his hand over his chin. "I'm open to trying new things but I'm going to say no fish. I've had enough of that for awhile."
That had been their food source for every night they were out. Declan didn't need more.
"No fish," Grey said with an actual curve upon his lips. He had to agree. They had had fish enough for a couple of weeks at least. Fish for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The cashier didn't look up at them again, which was probably good because there wouldn't have been anything polite to say. He also didn't tell them thank you or wished a good day when they left. What a dick.
"How about those burgers?" Grey suggested as they excited the shop and he was flinging his arm around Declan's shoulders again, pulling him towards the exit of the mall. There would be at least a few McDonald's out there.
"I'm all for burgers." Declan leaned against Grey for a moment, smiling. "Very easy to take with us if we don't feel like hanging around."
They could easily grab McDonalds and get going. There were always McDonalds. In his many travels Declan had learned that he could always rely on them for a midnight burger or cheap milkshakes. They kept going, somehow, even in this day and age.
"I feel like this is a good time for a beef cake joke," he teased, poking Grey's fit stomach.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
"Sure. I was in Steel Magnolias and ironically, the Crucible. I didn't get cast as often because I had some commitments to the coven and my training after school but I did okay." He had been slightly bothered by it at the time, like he had gotten snubbed but he got over it after awhile. It made sense even if it took him awhile to see that.
"I liked theater because it was fun," he explained with a smile. "I liked books because I could escape into them. I knew my emotions were my own in books, not something I picked up from everyone around me."
no subject
He nodded at the explanation about time constrains. It was different where he grew up. But everything was bigger in America. That was just how it was.
"Were you any good?" he asked with that same fond amusement. He could see Declan would be. He was so aware of emotions of other people that he probably would know how to portray them.
"And what's your favourite book?" He had meant what Declan said. That books were silent and it would be easy to reflect on them because of that. But he just nodded and didn't point that out. Because there was no point for the continuation of the conversation.
no subject
It had been fun and he liked acting but it wasn't a grand passion for him. Besides, an empath in the cut throat world of movies or Broadway would be a horrible idea. He would just die slowly inside from the misery of it all.
"Uh, that's hard. I don't know. That kind of depends on my mood, but I like stories with happy endings." He rubbed his hand through his hair. "Kind of hopeless like that."
no subject
He leaned forward then, his coffee gone. He put the cup away and propped his elbow on the table, dropping his chin to a palm and looked at Declan. It would be hard to pick a favourite book. All the hard questions.
"Well, some favourites then?" he urged. The happy ending part didn't surprise him at all, actually. It was just the kind of vibe he had from Declan.
no subject
"Much Ado About Nothing, I could read that a hundred times and never get tired of it," he said when he drew back, watching Grey closely to see if he was mad or not. "But I can say the same for The Big Easy and anything by Langston Hughes."
Declan liked books and a wide variety, clearly.
no subject
His eyes were softer when Declan leaned away, following him with that gaze. Where all this was going, Grey had no idea but he loved every second of it.
"I imagine you don't much like Hemingway," he said slowly reached over the table, taking his sweet time with it as he took Declan's hand in his, playing with his fingers.
no subject
Wherever this was going, Declan was along for the ride. All the way to Warsaw at the very least but a part of him really wanted to keep going. He wanted to follow this thing with Grey until it solidified or crashed and burned. It was a little scary to be that invested already.
"He did love cats. I can't fault him for that."
no subject
Perhaps if it had been longer, he would have gotten bored with it, too.
"I think we're done here," he said and nodded at their empty cups and plates. "What do you still need? I'm good with the grocery store visit." He just needed some coffee, lube and more condoms.
no subject
He gathered their trash together and tossed it away. They were off again, Declan staying next to Grey. This time he felt comfortable enough to reach out and take his hand, tangling their fingers together. Because why not? If Grey didn't want it, he'd pull away but so far he had only reached out while they were out.
They could be any other couple on a date and it kind of felt like one. A slightly abnormal date but still, it was nice. "I did like Old Man and the Sea. The whole respect thing between the fisherman and the fish at the end was deep."
no subject
"I know, that's why I liked the book," he said after leaning away. "Do you have a favourite genre of literature?" They were still going at it, just while walking.
Grey had so very, very few dates that he had no idea if this was normal or not for one of those occasions. But from a bird's eye perspective, they could have been a normal couple. He kind of felt special somehow, though. Maybe it was just him being silly.
no subject
"Poetry," he answered without hesitation. Other people might be embarrassed by that but Declan did not care who knew it. He loved poetry. It showed the power of words whether something epic or short. "I have read so much poetry. Wrote some really, really shitty stuff in high school too."
This was special. Declan didn't know how or why exactly but he knew he'd never have another experience quite like this if he and Grey ended up parting ways after Warsaw. He leaned slightly into Grey when they got off the escalators, happy to be right where he was. That was a rare feeling for him. He was always restless it seemed like. He wasn't walking with Grey like this.
no subject
"What about it you like so much?" he asked as he picked up a basket and guided them into the grocery store.
First there were fruits and vegetables, Grey went for a bag of apples. They'd be a nice snack for the train ride, a lot better than something sweet and full of unnecessary ingredients.
Declan seemed a lot easier in the city. He smiled more. There was a spring in his steps. Grey was happy just watching him most of the time, trailing behind him.
no subject
"Good poetry sticks with you, you know?" He turned around to walk backwards when Grey walked behind him. "You might not remember the whole thing but you remember the line and it makes you feel."
After being isolated for so long actually being around other people helped recharged him. Even with all the psychic noise around him, the city gave him a boost, energy. He also had great company, the lingering pleasure of sex echoing through him, and the promise of more. That really helped a man.
"It's also got a rhythm to it and that helps me focus."
no subject
There was something awfully fond in his eyes as he followed Declan. He didn't even care where they were going. Eventually they'd find their way to the coffee aisle. He wasn't in a hurry.
"The spell singing has a few rules. There's front heavy rhyming and a certain sort of rhythm that you need to follow. I could translate you some one day if you like."
no subject
He winked and turned around, following his nose to the coffee isle. Declan liked all sorts of coffee so he started to browse the aisle.
"I wouldn't mind learning more about how it works," he said, glancing over at Grey. "I've never seen magic like yours. The singing magic I've seen has always been heavily ritualized. Yours just... it's you. It's fascinating."
no subject
"If it's that easy, I might sing all the time," he said jokingly as he aimed for a dark roast and dropped a pack of it into the basket he was carrying.
"There are rituals. A lot of rituals. They're just pretty down to earth." Second nature to Grey. "But a lot of it is also improvised and made up on the spot because there just isn't a lot that you can practice. What brought it to my mind though, is that the whole Finnish folk lore is pretty much told in poems. The holy book of Finnish religion is a collection of poem verses."
no subject
"Do you have any English translations?" he asked as he picked up the pack of coffee and sniffed it. Not bad. He put it back in the cart and headed towards the pharmaceutical aisles in the back of the store. They needed way more supplies. Declan also needed toothpaste and a new toothbrush.
"I'm also interested in epic poetry. If you've got the English translations I'd love to read them." He grinned at Grey. "If you read them to me I'm just going to jump you and we'll never get through them."
no subject
He grabbed a couple of bottles of water on their way. He didn't trust the tap water in Riga and probably would trust it even less in Warsaw. Purification spell would only make it safe, not taste nice.
"I suppose there's a reason to read some for you," he said casually while dropping a fat tube of lube into the basket and fishing a pack of condoms from the shelf too.
no subject
He winked Grey then turned around and walked away. It looked like they had everything they needed so he headed towards the check out. Teasing Grey felt like the best sort of dangerous. How far could he push this man before he snapped? Declan shivered at the idea.
This trip was turning into one of the best he had ever taken.
no subject
He slapped Declan's ass in a casual sort of way when he turned to walk away, then lifted his brows if Declan would turn to look.
"I think I can recite some from memory," he said, following Declan to the register.
"Your thoughts on takeout?"
no subject
"I think takeout sounds good," he said, grinning at Grey. He could feel the slight frustration, mixing with desire and it was exactly what he was going for. It was a whole lot of fun riling up Grey. He felt more confident, more bold, with Grey because the response was always positive. Not once had been told to turn it down or stop. It was freeing.
"Maybe we should ask a local for a recommendation?"
some stupid drama and things I'd rather not deal with. So I locked the posts.
Today was awfully playful and he was not quite smiling more than he had for so many years he didn't even know when had been the last time. Declan was adorable, all the way to his surprised gasps to those grins and obvious teasing.
He loaded up his loot to the register and stared down the guy who was giving him the stink eye. Yeah, no, not asking this jackass anything.
"What're you in the mood for?" he asked while packing away his purchases into his backpack.
boo drama
"You are not a food option, so that'll have to wait," he mused, rubbing his hand over his chin. "I'm open to trying new things but I'm going to say no fish. I've had enough of that for awhile."
That had been their food source for every night they were out. Declan didn't need more.
because they're being an asshole for some reason.
The cashier didn't look up at them again, which was probably good because there wouldn't have been anything polite to say. He also didn't tell them thank you or wished a good day when they left. What a dick.
"How about those burgers?" Grey suggested as they excited the shop and he was flinging his arm around Declan's shoulders again, pulling him towards the exit of the mall. There would be at least a few McDonald's out there.
no subject
They could easily grab McDonalds and get going. There were always McDonalds. In his many travels Declan had learned that he could always rely on them for a midnight burger or cheap milkshakes. They kept going, somehow, even in this day and age.
"I feel like this is a good time for a beef cake joke," he teased, poking Grey's fit stomach.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
So Grey is 33 and Kai 31
(no subject)
Declan is the baby.... Luca is his age.
Yeah, my boy is very young.
babeh. I was chattering about character zodiac signs yeterday with plurk, do you have any for yours?
Dec is a Leo and Sean a Capricorn based on birthdays
Awfully fitting. C: Kai is a scorpio and Grey is Aquarius.
Which is nice because I didn't actually plan that, lol
lmao. Fortunate mishaps.
It was meant to be!
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)