Aaron

[alcuin]

When Alcuin had gotten a second phone, aware now that Hannibal was using his to track his location, he'd given Aaron the number. And it was on that one that Aaron had texted him to check in on him, and suggested he come to tea.

Alcuin left his other phone in his room at the brothel, and quietly slipped out one evening, and went to the chapel. He felt anxious, still. Guilty. But he did feel better than the last time he'd been here.

Comments

[quitollis]

"We can talk about it, if you like," Aaron suggested. "Last time was perhaps not appropriate for that. I'm glad to see you in better spirits."

[alcuin]

Alcuin wasn’t entirely sure what to say and finally settled on, “I’m not working at the brothel anymore.”

[quitollis]

"Oh?" Aaron said, surprised, relieved, and wondering why. "What happened?"

[alcuin]

“Oh, I just. Um.” Alcuin looked a touch uncomfortable. “I realized I didn’t want to have sex with people that I didn’t want to have sex with, anymore.”

[quitollis]

"And Hannibal was alright with that?" Aaron asked, instantly concerned.

[alcuin]

“Well I don’t think he was thrilled with the decision but it’s not as if he was going to force me,” Alcuin said.

[quitollis]

Not overtly, probably, Aaron thought, but kept it to himself as much as he could. "I don't know him very well at all, but... I wasn't sure he would take a 'no' very lightly. I'm glad it went well."

[alcuin]

"I'm not sure I would say things are going... well," Alcuin said. "But it's fine." He looked down at his hands. "I mean. I've barely spoken to him since."

[quitollis]

"Maybe... that's not such a bad thing?" Aaron tried. "If you're looking for your own voice, then... hearing his a little less might be good."

[alcuin]

"Perhaps," said Alcuin, and sat down at the table with the tea. He almost added that he couldn't remember the last time he'd gone this long without sex, but though better of it. He also didn't add that he missed Hannibal.

[quitollis]

It was so evident that Alcuin loved Hannibal that it wasn't nessacery for him to say he missed him. "Does he not want to talk to you anymore?"

[alcuin]

“I think he’s giving me space,” Alcuin said quietly. “And I haven’t been trying to close it.”

[quitollis]

Aaron joined him and put the sweets he'd bought on the table. It didn't seem like much, but it was huge for Aaron, who was always reluctant to indulge or spend money on anything that wasn't with purpose

"Are you scared to?" He asked carefully.

[alcuin]

"Scared? I don't know that I'd use that word. I mean not... scared that he'd hurt me or anything like that. Though okay, maybe a little scared that things have changed for good, that there's no going back. Maybe I don't want to find out."

[quitollis]

"It can be scary, standing on your own two feet, but... it's better in the long run. You'll grow as an individual."

[alcuin]

"I would like to be able to disentangle my relationship with him from... work," Alcuin said. "I thought perhaps getting another job might help. I have a sort of um, lingering offer to help from someone, but I think it's a job that Hannibal would not care for."

[quitollis]

"That... would be a very good idea, I think," Aaron said. "And... perhaps it doesn't matter that Hannibal might not like it. It's your choice, after all. May I ask what it is?"

[alcuin]

“WSS,” Alcuin said after a moment. “I.. met someone who works there. Though um, he doesn’t know who I really am. Which makes it more striking that he said he saw potential in me and said I should reach out if I was ever looking for a job.”

[quitollis]

Aaron nodded thoughtfully. "I don't know what their stance on vampires is."

[alcuin]

“Oh I wasn’t planning to mention that part,” Alcuin said quickly. “I’m not risking drawing their attention to Hannibal. But even just the… listening in that I can do, I imagine would be a valuable skill to them.” Alcuin could show his worth as a spy without revealing why he’d been trained that way, right?

[quitollis]

"Yes, of course," Aaron said. "And I think it'll be good to have something challenging to do - for a good cause." He added the last because he wasn't all that clear on the organization and their objectives. Then, because he was thinking it and it would be pointless not to tell Alcuin (since he could hear it anyway). "I trust they'll have better methods than... well, the way you spied before." By sleeping with men. "Though far be it for me to judge that. The Church isn't exactly clean in that sense either."

[alcuin]

"I do have other skills," Alcuin said, a touch dryly. "I speak four languages. Well, four and a half. I've been learning Chinese."

[quitollis]

"I'm not saying you can't," Aaron said, smiling. "I'm just saying you should be careful not to let people be tempted to use you in that way if you don't want to be used in that way."

[alcuin]

"To be very clear, I do not intend for anyone to tell me who to have sex with," Alcuin said. "But I also have no reason to believe that that would be in this particular job description."

[quitollis]

"Good. That's all I'm saying," Aaron replied.

"Look, I'm not saying I go through the same, but... well, the Church has a tendency to task me with certain jobs because they're aware of my sins and figure I won't mind it if a succubus infects my mind. Just saying I hope the WWS will be a better employer. But I'm sure you'll make sure of that."