The Long Hello

[Xanatos Etanial]

It'd been a week. A long, nail-biting week.

X decided that sobering up sucked, a lot frankly, and he never wanted to go through it again. Therefore, he'd never drink again -never have to sober up like this again. Alaric had been key to all of this, he wouldn't let him give up. Wouldn't let him relapse, he'd been a best friend to X in the week since they met - a best friend and more. X had moved in with him and set up his own room from the second bedroom he'd been using for storage.

He looked at the white turtleneck and gray slacks he was wearing. A far cry from his native suit, the only piece of clothing he'd actually brought with him for his journey. It now hung cleaned and pressed in his closet, his sheathed sword resting against the wall of the same closet. His attention returning to his new clothes, it wasn't an outfit he was accustomed to wearing, but never the less, he couldn't deny that it wasn't bad. Wasn't bad at all.

He glanced out the window to the world outside. He hadn't expected any of this. Certainly not to still be on Daethira, not to be sober, and not to have met Alaric. He let out a soft sigh, and smiled a bit.

[Alaric Mirit]

It had only been a week and already Alaric was sick of Daethira. Naturally, he had recognized the thought of coming home to repent and put to rest demons of the past, but it wasn't working so well for him. But he would never let Xanatos notice the personal emotions that were ripping away at his insides. They were only miles from the home in which he had grown up in. The home where his parents were murdered. Where he murdered them.

Thrusting his gaze away from the stretching view that was afforded by their three story height from the ground, Alaric shoved his hands into his loose fitting khaki cargos and shrugged up the inevitable slip of his sleeve from upper arm to lower shoulder. The material was soft, a relief to his sensitive skin, and thick, preventing the harsh Daethiran climate from raking his flesh.

However unhappy he was being here, he knew that a little vacation was a refresh for both companions. Xan didn't seem to mind so he found himself less and less effected by past events that transpired. But, there were some forces that would not let old wounds heal.

He had been standing just outside his door, preparing to knock and inquire access when a blinding pain tore through the upper portion of his skull. A warm breath escaped into the air, locking with cold presence before he crashed against the door with a thud.

[Xanatos Etanial]

"...!?" X moved to the door quickly, the sound startling him. He opened the door just as Alaric slipped against the supports, reaching for him X helped him stay up.

"Ric, what's wrong?" Concern filled his words as he tried to help him into the room.

[Alaric Mirit]

It had never been anything serious. He supposed it came from thinking too much, which he definitely over doing. The quick met support of Xanatos and his own surprising gain of balance, after head on collision, had him back up right before he could hit the floor and take his companion with him. Completely black eyes closed, shifting about wildly in an attempt to focus, and only when they had, did he open them again.

"Dizzy spell. Often occuring, I assure you." He mumbled out, drawing himself away from Xan. "Was there anything you wanted to do today?"

[Xanatos Etanial]

Well... that was ... odd. He'd keep an eye on Ric, make sure he really was okay. But for now, he'd take his word on it.

"Don't really know... well... well..." He trailed off for a moment, then turned to look back at Ric. "I haven't been outside in almost a week. I wouldn't mind going for a walk." He smiled as much as he could. His nightmares were less constant now, and the memories weren't as overwhelming. Ric just being there seemed to help a lot with all of that.

[Alaric Mirit]

"A walk?"

Alaric puzzled for a few moments and then began to nod, hesitant as it was. Surely a little walk wouldn't harm anyone - He doing the harming, being the main concern. It was obvious by now that he was quite nervous around other people, despite having met Xan, whom he was quite comfortable with, in a populated bar.

"I suppose we could grab a coffee or something.." He mumbled, recalling the local cafe that was one block down. The warm beverage would be a relief from the naturally cold weather.

Turning, not bothering to shrug up the sleeve that had again slipped down, he stepped back out of the room and waited for X to follow.

[Xanatos Etanial]

X stretched, grabbing his blue jacket from the small table in his room and threw it on, following Ric. A walk would be good, clear his senses, get some fresh air.

"I take it you know a place?"

[Alaric Mirit]

"A bit too well." He murmured, his answer was barely audible. He was sure acting suspicious for someone who didn't want to get into the whole elaborate ordeal concerning his anything but pleasant past.

"I hope you aren't too uncomfortable here. I know it can be a little cold. This is my home soil so I never stopped to think if it may bother you. It just goes to show you that I am not used to good company. We can leave tonight if you'd like." He informed Xan. The cold chill seemed to sooth his bones and aching flesh. It was something he never be allowed to admit. He was home, but his heart was located elsewhere. A devious smile formed and his gaze was cast back to Xan.

[Xanatos Etanial]

A chill ran through X's spine, forcing him to shiver, if just slightly.

"Well it's certainly chillier than what I'm used to. I'm from a much warmer planet, and the false warmth of alcohol skews your perception." He smiled, holding back a small chuckle. He could laugh about it now, which was of course a good thing.

Another chill went through him and he shivered again, "Don't worry about me, I'll adapt."

[Alaric Mirit]

"You cold? I could warm you up.." He murmured softly, smirking, though it was hardly his intention to say it out loud at all. He winced slightly, avoiding Xan's gaze before listing toward him. An arm stretched outward, swooping forward and curving around his lower back, his hand cupping X's hip. They looked a bit awkward, aye, but those striding down the street simultaneous to them hardly seemed to care. They even received admirable glance here and there, which Alaric was sure to avoid as well.

"Here we are." He said suddenly, pivoting them both to the left. The door was drawn open by his free hand and with slight force, he nudged him inside the vacant cafe.

[Shilandra Rae]

-ignore-

[Xanatos Etanial]

He looked around the small cafe, it wasn't very busy, or big, but it did have a certain coziness to it. Finding a table towards one side he walked to it and had a seat, Alaric just steps behind him. He looked around, like a child seeing something for the first time. It was nice to be outside, X wasn't used to being penned up inside for as long as he had been.

He looked over to Ric who had sat down across from him. "So do you recomend anything in partiuclar?"

[Alaric Mirit]

"Well, I suppose Amity Kisses are nice. They are only made in this cafe and they are what I always get. Raspberry, chocolate, with a shot of strong coffee. They warm you right up, but you might not like it. They have a wide variety of choices, though." He murmured, removing a menu from behind a napkin hold. Shifting it across the table toward him, he turned his head and gazed at the approaching waiter, who seemed all eyes for his handsome companion. A stiff smile appeared on his face, the expression not quite reaching the opaque depths of his eyes.

"What do you say we get this order to go?"

[Xanatos Etanial]

"Actually the Amity Kisses sounds really good." He smiled over at Ric, blinking a few times. He wanted to leave already?

"I suppose we could get it to go, is there somewhere else you wanted to go too, Ric?" He hadn't been around Daetheria much, and was hoping Ric would show him around a bit. It seemed like a nice enough planet.

"Hello gentlemen." The waiter approached, and though he technically spoke to both, his eyes were locked firmly on Xanatos. "Welcome to the Crimson Rose, would you like to hear our specials today? Or do we know what we want?" He smiled at X, he wasn't sure about his customers, but he knew what HE wanted.

[Alaric Mirit]

"Two of the usual, please. An extra shot of chocolate in them as well." He murmured, dawing the man's attention to himself. A flurry of something violent passed between the two, the calm air around Alaric rippling with something violent. The man hand, which thus became the object of his divided attention, became covered in a black substance, later recognized as the ink from his pen. An annoyed line formed on his lips and the pen in question was driven from his hand and placed a far distance from their table by an undeterminable force of mind.

"To go..." He added stiffly, turning his cold gaze upon Xan before turning it further to survey the cold scape of Daethira's plains through the slightly glazed window.

[Xanatos Etanial]

He blinked, rather surprised by what had happened, then looked at Ric plainly, the footsteps of the flustered waiter catching his ear as he watched the man return to the kitchen. X's gaze returned to Alaric.

"Ric... did YOU do that?" he had a tone of inquiry, not of surprise or disbelief. He'd seen things similar before, including from himself, was Ric gifted as well? Blessed with the abilities of the mages? He had to find out.

[Alaric Mirit]

Completely black eyes continued to leer out the window, though seemingly looking past all that was present. His mind wandered, his head ached, and his heart slowed to a deadly rhythm. When the opaque wrath of his gaze turned back upon Xanatos, a cold chill swept across their table and swirled around them both, a mischievous smile replacing the stoic line.

"Yes." He purred, for the lack of a better reply. Down slots of spiked black hair fell down to shroud the calculating suggestion in his eyes, his palm upturned to except the rest of a chiseled chin.

[Xanatos Etanial]

X's teeth fell together tightly. Normally seeing Ric smile would have been a reason for joy, but something felt off, it worried him.

"Maybe we should just go home, huh Ric?"

[Alaric Mirit]

"If that's where you'd like to go, my pet." He murmured, his eyes raking over his face in intent assessment. There was no tender emotion or kindness in the expression he wore, only a malice that ran soul deep. The smile was obviously ment to manipulate and intimidate. And it was working. Not that he figured the younger man was a push over. That was quite the contrary, thus his interest.

"Have I worried you, pet?" He inquired, his smile broadening to expose highly sharpened white teeth.

[Xanatos Etanial]

X's heart pounded hard in his chest for a moment. His face looking back at Ric's... no, this stranger's face exploring his own with a terrifying interest. His eyes narrowed, and his lips pouted just slightly, his breath heavy.

"Ric... are you alright?..." He wasn't. He knew he wasn't, but he didn't want to believe what was in front of him. This had to be a joke, it had to. "You're not acting... like yourself."

[Alaric Mirit]

"Oh, come off it, Xan. This is me as much as the other is and you're going to get used to it, I dare say, or there may be trouble. I'm not so bad." He murmured, his gaze shifting away for the duration of his short speech. The waiter approached, carrying two cups in his hands, a friendly smile plastered on his slightly pudgey face, though the expression was exclusively reserved for his companion. His smile melted away into a disgusted frown and when the man reached the table, he was on the move.

The act was carried out in fluid, jerky motions. One leg slipped between the waiter's own and was brought up sharply to meet the flesh between. He grinned at the sharp exhale of breath and managed to snatch the cups before the man hit the floor.

"Coming, dear?" He asked, casting a glance back to Xanatos.

[Xanatos Etanial]

His heart felt like it was going to explode. He had no idea what was going on. Ric had changed, and not for the better, he was violent, dominating, and a bit scary. Every ounce of sense he had told him to walk out that door, go down the street, get on a ship and leave now - but he couldn't do that, not to Ric. Regardless of this 'other' Ric he was now faced with.

Sighing sharply he stood. "I suppose."

[Alaric Mirit]

He obviously wasn't liked by this tart kid. His grin turned sour and his eyes averted, his arm extended to award him the cup of coffee. Taking a sip of his own, he released his sigh and then stalked out of the cafe, though he did stop to hold the door open for him. his gaze congregating with the cracks in the ground.

[Xanatos Etanial]

He took the cup and smiled a bit. He surprised when he held the door open for him, and let out a small sigh. Maybe he was jumping to conclussions about all of this.

"Thanks, Ric." He walked slowly about a foot behind the older man.

[Alaric Mirit]

"Of course." He returned, settling a bit when he realized the tart was going to be a bit more patient with him. Pasting back on his grin, he reached back and drug him back to his direct side, careful not to jostle the coffee in his or Xanatos' hands.

"Home then? We could go shopping if you'd like. Or.. we could..." His voice trailed off, leaving one to believe the finish was to be savored by only the mind.

[Xanatos Etanial]

The sudden move forward startled him slightly, and he found himself stammering over his words as Ric seemed to purr into his ear. He didn't know anymore if this was the same Ric, or what was going on precisely, but Ric had gotten more forceful, and a touch more direct. He felt a small lump grow in his throat, and a rosy warmth spread across his cheeks.

Oh he was good.

[Alaric Mirit]

Xan blushed, he grinned a bit more, then started toward home when no answer came. The coffee cup was drained rather quickly, then discarded in a nearby waste bin, his hands finding other work by shuffling through his pockets. Drawing out a black pack, he drew out a similarly colored stem and stuck it between his lips. A lighter was raised to the tip of the stem, lighting it after a moment.

Placing the package and lighter back in his pants pocket, he exhaled a small cloud of smoke, releasing a clove scent into the chilled air.

"Do you like it? The coffee, I mean.."

[Xanatos Etanial]

He'd been sipping it slowly ever since they started home. Ric had been right, it was delicious.

He smiled at his companion and nodded, "It's excellent."

The tapering waves of smoke passed by him and he waved them away from his face. Didn't care for the habit himself, but Ric enjoyed it.

He wouldn't have minded going shopping, but home sounded nice, for such a short time out it seemed like a lot had happened. Besides they could always shop another day. He let another sigh roll from his lips, as he slipped back into a relaxed state. He'd been blowing things ouf of proportion it seems, Ric had just had an odd couple of moments, that's all it was. He seemed fine now though.

[Alaric Mirit]

The stem hung between his lips and his head canted in mild amusement when he noticed the younger man watching him. Fascinated was he? Simply adoring. A smug smile appeared on his face and his eyes wandered their way over Xanatos' face for what felt like the millionth time today. The kid didn't exactly seem to realize how much trouble he had gotten himself into. Alaric was no more cured of his past than he was of his other unhealthy addictions. He just didn't want to share with the class. But he. He knew life's lessons like the back of his hand. Xan obviously was in the same boat. Great, he was stuck with two for a good long time. Oh, the karma he reaped.

"Great." He muttered, exhaling another bout of smoke. No trouble in having a wee bit o' fun while severing down the sentence, eh? "I thought you might like it." He purred.

[Xanatos Etanial]

He didn't even need to see it, he could feel Alaric's eyes on him again, and then he spoke with a smooth charm that had began in the coffee house and hadn't come to an end yet. He was blushing again, frell. There really wasn't a reason TO BE blushing, but something about the way Ric was saying all of this was causing it. He was speaking with a tone that was more felt than heard.

He nodded slowly, smiling as best he could through rosy cheeks. "I do. You have a fine taste." ... He caught himself after he said it, an almost frozen look on his face as the words registered in his own ears. It hadn't come out quite right - ending up sounding far more risky than he had meant it to. Great, he was blushing MORE now.