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[destenebres]

"You've reached Armand. Please leave a message." Voice | Text | Video | Action

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[live_growstronger]

[Accepting his Old Fashioned from the bartender, Methos waits in a plush cushioned chair, one leg crossed over the other. He's found a spot facing the door, so that he can see his date when he came inside the Graines Grenadiers. He interested to learn more about the man, more than his position here and his curiously strong grip.]

[destenebres]

[Being 'fashionably late' has never been his way, so he arrives precisely on time, looking a bit more relaxed now that he's off duty. Dark eyes sweep the the place, quick but thorough, and when they settle on Methos he smiles and makes his way over, to settle on the stool beside him.] Hello, Adam.

[He's apparently been here often enough that the bartender doesn't need to hear his order, just goes ahead and sets a vodka and lime in front of him. But Armand ignores it, for the moment.]

[live_growstronger]

[Methos may have shown up a little early. Sue him, he's excited. He also wanted to get a lay of the land first, to get to know this place a bit before Armand showed up.

Turning, he smiles at the man, noting the fact that the bartender already had his order ready.] Armand. You're looking nice. [Methos is dressed as casually as he ever was, except that he's spruced it up with a button up shirt. Fancy!]

[destenebres]

[Oh, that's... more than a little flattering, if he's honest. His eyes sweep over the other man before darting back up to meet his gaze.] I could say the same to you.

[As for the still untouched vodka... what can he say, he's a creature of habit.]

[live_growstronger]

Really? [He asked with heavy self-deprecation as he looked down at himself.] And you haven't even started drinking yet!

So, Armand- [He leaned against the bar, taking that moment to give him a proper once over.] Tell me about yourself. About your life before here? Hobbies? Favorite music? Something to get to know you properly.

[destenebres]

Really. [Yes, he knows that was self-deprecation - it's undeserved, as far as Armand's concerned, and the rebuttal slips out before he's fully thought it through.

He gives no sign of that, though, just settles in a little more comfortably, leaning an elbow against the bar himself.] Well, my hobbies are painting and photography. As for music... I'll listen to just about anything, but I have a soft spot for classical. [Headtilt.] And you?

[live_growstronger]

Oh, I love art. Not any good at it myself, but I've always enjoyed the resulting beauty of others talents. Perhaps you might show me some of your work, sometime?

[Methos smiles at the mention of classical. Depending on what time the man was from, that could mean anything, couldn't hit. But he was going to wager he was from a time frame fairly close to his own.] I enjoy classical, sometimes. The spare smattering of Bach when I'm in a mood. But I confess, I'm much more partial to rock and blues.

[destenebres]

[That gets another smile out of him, this one a touch warmer than the last.] Of course, I'd be delighted to.

[And in this case, Methos' guess is right on the money.] I tend to prefer Beethoven, myself, but there's nothing wrong with a bit of Bach. Or the blues, for that matter, though I'm afraid I'm not quite as familiar with them.

Sorry for the delay, just moved (stupid rl getting in the way)

[live_growstronger]

[Methos eyebrow quirked when Armand mentioned his unfamiliarity with both Bach and blues.] No? Well, that's a shame, I'll have to make sure we right that travesty straight away. Perhaps I can bring along a few records while you show me you're paintings. We can introduce each other one art for the other.

No worries!

[destenebres]

[He's more familiar with Bach than the blues, but that's still not much. He's more drawn to the likes of Bartok and Peterssen, with Beethoven and Vivaldi interspersed for flavor.

In any case, the offer draws another smile out of him; he seems genuinely enthused by the prospect.] Yes, I'd like that; please do.

[live_growstronger]

[Methos looked pleased.] Excellent. But, look at me, we've barely even started the first date and already I'm discussing the second. [Finishing his drink, he slides it aside.] Anything you'd like to know about me? Or that you'd like me to know about you?

[destenebres]

[There's quite a bit he'd like to know, but probably not much his date would be willing to share with a near stranger.

Still, he gives every appearance of thinking it over, plucking the lime out of his drink and biting into it delicately, sucking on it for a few moments before he lets it fall back into the glass.]

Let me turn your question around on you, or at least part of it: what do you do?

text;

[theosopher]

Whenever you're ready, I want to meet with you. I want to talk about what happened, but if you aren't ready I understand.

I know you blame yourself, please don't. You gave me exactly what I wanted, what I needed, and in doing so I violated your trust. I have no right to beg for your forgiveness, but I want to try to help you forgive yourself, if you'll let me.

[destenebres]

[He was aware Alvis was out of the hospital; though he didn't quite dare to show his face, or try to contact Alvis, he'd kept as much of an eye on the man's recovery as he could. How could he do any less?

When he sees the username attached to the text, he almost deletes it unread. But in the end, he opens it; he deserves whatever remonstrance Alvis cares to give him.

Then he actually reads the thing, and he's thrown for yet another loop. In particular, the idea that Alvis would need his forgiveness boggles the mind. He starts to reply, stops, and starts again. Finally, he responds simply:]

But of course; I'm at your disposal. Just name a time and place.

[theosopher]

Here. At any time. I'll be here all day and night.

[ He sends him a location via the device, which Armand could follow. If he did, it would lead him out to a clearing in the northern forest, where Alvis sat and meditated by a steadily moving stream.

It was his usual place to go when he needed to clear his head, somewhere quiet and sacrosanct. Today he wished to share it with Armand. ]

[destenebres]

[There's a small part of him that quails at the idea, but he ruthlessly squashes it. If absolutely nothing else, he does need to apologize, and Alvis deserves to hear it in person.]

Just after sunset, then. Vampires don't do terribly well in sunlight.

[theosopher]

I'll be here.

[destenebres]

[There doesn't seem to be anything left to say, so he says nothing at all.

But as soon after sunset as he can manage it, he heads out to the coordinates provided. The trip goes a bit more quickly at vampire speeds than it might at human ones; but instead of running straight into the clearing, he stops a good distance away from it and lets his feet find their human weight and tread for the rest of the walk. This way, Alvis has more than enough time to hear him coming.

He stops just inside it, not about to close the distance between them unless he's invited to - which he sincerely doubts will happen.]

[theosopher]

[ He heard the approach and opened his eyes to see who it was. It was rare that anyone stumbled upon this location uninvited, so it was nice to see that it was Armand instead of a stranger.

Alvis rose to his feet and then extended his hands to him. He gave Armand the option to come to him, to hold his hands, to bridge that gap if he wanted to - but he didn't want to push him into anything he might be uncomfortable with. ]

I'm glad to see you.

[destenebres]

[The gesture does, at least, encourage him to draw closer, though he still doesn't quite dare to take the offered hands. The way he keeps looking at them is a pretty clear sign that he wants to, but he doesn't let himself, crossing his arms over his chest instead.]

Likewise. [Particularly considering the shape he was in when Armand last saw him.]

[theosopher]

[ He could see that he wasn't ready yet, so he wasn't going to force him. Instead, he asked, his voice quiet and warm. ]

May I touch you, Armand?

[destenebres]

[He would be lying if he tried to claim he didn't want to be touched, especially by this man and perhaps especially now. And though he'd told far bigger lies for far worse reasons, in the past, he couldn't bring himself to look Alvis in the eye and say that.

Perhaps it was because he'd always had a weakness for blue-eyed men, or because he was a terribly selfish creature at heart and wanted to keep Alvis close regardless of any risk to the monk. Perhaps the very fact that Alvis still seemed to want him after what he'd done was stilling his tongue now.]

If you like. [His voice rose just slihhtly at the last, giving a questioning lilt to what should have been a firm statement. One hand twitched just slightly, as if he'd meant to gesture or reach out with it, but stopped himself.]

[theosopher]

[ His approach was slow, patient, as was the rise of his callused hands. Both rested on either side of Armand's face, skin hot, alive and healthy. ]

Do you feel that? [ He asked intimately. ] Do you see? [ His head tilted slightly, the scars of the bite present on his neck. ] I healed and I'm here, Armand, you didn't lose me.

I don't want to lose you either.

Delivery

[mordacita]

[ Armand will find on his doorstep a package, neatly wrapped in blue and silver paper. Inside is a large bottle of blood, and a box with this ring inside. There's a tag which says, in script: 'From Rafa, for the holidays. For Armand.' ]

[destenebres]

[Rafa, in turn, will find a handwritten thank you note either pushed through the mail slot or wedged into the crack between the door frame and the door itself.

And, the next time he comes to Pandemonium, he'll see Armand wearing the ring.]