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

[alcuin]

"I do," Alcuin said. "And I cook... I'm quite good actually, I think."

[quitollis]

Aaron was genuinely pleased that he was getting to know Alcuin. "Well, I would love to taste it. I can't cook if my life depended on it. I mean, I can boil and I can fry, but... it's never been a priority."

[alcuin]

"I don't get to cook for other people really," Alcuin said, "so I'd enjoy that."

[quitollis]

"Excellent," Aaron said, smiling more broadly now. "I'll bring the wine."

[alcuin]

Well Alcuin most certainly couldn't invite Aaron to his own kitchen, but it was a nice fantasy. He smiled. "How about wine now? Or is it too early?"

[quitollis]

The smile stayed on Aaron's face. "Probably," he said, but got up. "Fortunately, I do always have wine. I have a really nice one, actually. Red. Pinot Grigio. Good?"

[alcuin]

Pinot Grigio was white wine, which made Alcuin smile, but it didn't really matter in what way Aaron had misspoke, he was fine with anything.

"Perfect," he said.

[quitollis]

Aaron got up to the cabinet where he had quite a lot of wine. He found the bottle. "Oh, it's a white," he realized and chuckled. "Well, that's me caught out. And I've spent quite some time in Italy."

He turned and came back with the bottle and two plain glasses and poured them both a generous amount. "Cheers."

[alcuin]

"Cheers," Alcuin said, and then somewhat sheepishly admitted, "I'm afraid I know quite a lot about wine," before going on to excitedly explain the relationship between Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir and the different processes involved in red versus white wine.

[quitollis]

Aaron listened intently. He was always interested in learning things and all too aware that his own knowledge was quite limited. There just wasn't much time between his work as a hunter, exorcist and priest. The finer things in life went unappreciated.

But he did enjoy learning and asked where things were unclear to him.

"I had a few lessons as a cooper for a while, while I was in Italy. I loved it. I can't say I remember much of it, but I remember the artistry and the skill that went into it."

[alcuin]

"Do you make other things?" Alcuin asked, and picked up the bottle to refill their glasses.

[quitollis]

Aaron offered his glass to be filled. "You're sitting on it. The whole set, really. I enjoy working with my hands and... creating something."

[alcuin]

"Really?" Alcuin looked genuinely impressed as he glanced around. "The bed, too?"

[quitollis]

Aaron did feel some pride now. "Yes."

The headboard was quite elaborate, as was the end, with quite complex patterns. "Took me quite some months."

[alcuin]

"It's beautiful," said Alcuin, remembering admiring it before.

And then remembering time spent in that bed.

[quitollis]

Aaron was genuinely pleased to have made something that someone thought beautiful. "I er.... I'd begun making you a picture frame. When we still... I wanted to surprise you."

[alcuin]

"Oh," said Alcuin softly. "That was very kind of you."

[quitollis]

"I'll pick it up and finish it... if you'd like," Aaron said, somehow hopeful.

He refilled both their glasses again.

[alcuin]

"I would like that very much, yes," Alcuin said, and smiled sweetly at him. He was feeling a bit tipsy already, which perhaps was unwise, but it did feel nice to relax.

[quitollis]

God, he was beautiful. And Aaron had missed that smile. Though... it seemed a more smile genuine now? It looked more genuine to him than before, when Alcuin was spying on him. Like he meant it. God, he hoped he meant it.

"I will. It's always nice to... create something. What I do involves so much... death and misery. It's nice to just create something beautiful."

[alcuin]

Alcuin really was trying not to pry, but catching some of those thoughts from Aaron only made him smile more.

“That’s so nice,” he said. “I ah… I write poetry sometimes.”

[quitollis]

"Really?" Aaron said, genuinely curious. "Would you share some of it?"

[alcuin]

Alcuin looked a little embarrassed. “Oh I don’t think it’s very good,” he said. “Maybe sometime though… in the moment. When a line comes to my head.”

[quitollis]

"That's alright," Aaron assured him. "When the mood takes you. You like reading, don't you? Poetry?" he asked, to keep the conversation flowing and make things less uncomfortable.

Sometimes he felt like a bit of a brute compared to Alcuin. The young man was so refined and cultured. Aaron had an eagerness to learn, but he felt only good for one thing; fighting.

[alcuin]

"I do," Alcuin said, brightening a little. "I read everything I get my hands on. I've never been to school..." Pause. "Well, I probably have, but I don't remember. So I learned everything from books or occasionally private tutors. Piano lessons, fencing lessons, languages..."