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]

"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."

[alcuin]

"You shouldn't be coerced either," Alcuin said.

He hesitated, and then added, "And I know I've already apologized for how I treated you, but that might be the part I'm most sorry for."

[quitollis]

"It was wrong, but... some good came from it," Aaron replied. "I'm not sure if it will help, but - in case you need to hear it - I forgive you."

[alcuin]

"I appreciate that," Alcuin said. Then he smiled a little and said, "So have you... been seeing anyone?" He plucked a name out of his memory. "Eliot?"

[quitollis]

Aaron chuckled. Alcuin would be a good asset with that incredible memory. He didn't remember talking about Eliot to him, but he probably had spared the pretty wizard a thought or two. "No, haven't seen him again. I er... have been seeing someone, though. Kersen, actually. Not sure how to describe that particular relationship, but... I'm quite fond of him."

[alcuin]

Alcuin looked genuinely shocked.

He opened his mouth. Then closed it again. Then finally said, "That um. That's surprising."

[quitollis]

"I was quite surprised as well, but... he's very good company and... well, the sex is quite good too," Aaron admitted. It was an understatement.

[alcuin]

Alcuin hesitated visibly. Then finally said, "Did you know he's also sleeping with Hannibal?"

[quitollis]

Oh, Aaron thought. He wasn't sure how to feel about that, or how to react. "Oh. No, I didn't know that."

[alcuin]

"I'm not making assumptions about what that might mean, but you should be... cautious," Alcuin said carefully.

[quitollis]

"About Kersen? Or Hannibal?"Aaron asked, though he could guess.

[alcuin]

"Both," Alcuin said. "I'm not saying that I think Kersen is um - " Doing exactly what I did. "I mean, probably whatever you have with him is exactly what it seems. After all he's older and stronger than Hannibal, I can't imagine him doing Hannibal's bidding..." Unless Kersen himself was simply... like Hannibal.

[quitollis]

"You think Kersen's spying on me for Hannibal?" Aaron asked, frowning. "Are they that close?" It was surprising and somewhat suspicious that Kersen had never mentioned they slept together.

[alcuin]

"I just think it's... not outside the realm of possibility," Alcuin said. "I walked in on them once, it seemed ah, intimate." Kersen drinking from him, to be precise, which Alcuin had found surprising. "But I don't really know how close they are. My understanding is that they only met recently."

[quitollis]

Aaron nodded, thoughtfully. "Well, thank you for letting me know." He'd have to let it sink in, unsure what to think about it all.

"He hasn't asked you to spy on me again?" He asked then.

[alcuin]

"No," Alcuin said. Though he did hesitate, and then add, "But I did promise him after you first came to the brothel that I would ensure that you wouldn't bring the church down on our heads. I told him I would handle you."

Of course, Alcuin... hadn't. Until Aaron found him crying on the street, he hadn't contacted him at all. Instead he'd just trusted that Aaron would keep his word.

[quitollis]

It was implied, and Aaron was thankful for the honesty.

He returned it with honesty. "I've swerved their attention. I've tried to anyway. Not just for you, but for Kersen also. I've... changed my opinion somewhat on vampires." Though not on Lecter.