Alcuin

[whispersoflove]

Anael had been keeping an eye out for Alcuin without noticing him - until, of course, he spotted him with Hannibal, his attention drawn by the love radiating from the alcove. They were locked in a lover's embrace, for all that only one of them felt the warm sort of love Anael knew to recognise. There had been a flicker of something else for a second, coming from Hannibal, but it was gone as soon as it had sparked. It both warmed his heart and seeped cold into his bones, and he turned away to get another glass of wine from a passing waiter.

He had found Julie again in the crowd, and she was just telling him about this other party she was off to, and that he absolutely ought to come to. It was then that he spotted a flash of white in the crowd, making his way towards the exit, and he leaned in to kiss Julie's cheek, and gave her his warmest apologies, but there was a friend here that he had yet to catch, and she should make the most of her night. He would catch up with her if he could, but otherwise, she truly ought to seize the day.

Not that she needed him to tell her that.

He caught up with Alcuin, dressed in a white suit as Hannibal had described, the better to make him look... well, angelic, Anael supposed humans would call him. "Alcuin," he greeted him warmly, assuming that the mask on his features would not stop the young man from recognising him, as it had not stopped Hannibal. "Tell me you aren't on your way out already. I've been looking for you."

Comments

[alcuin]

"I'm half his age and a former prostitute," Alcuin said, quiet and a touch sad. "He's already planning on giving up teaching because of me. I don't want to invite scandal that might damage his reputation."

[whispersoflove]

Anael thought that a reputation would be worse if it came out that one would rather hide love than feel it freely, but he assumed that such was not the case with men, to this day. So, instead of questioning Alcuin's words, he settled on sympathy. "I'm sorry," he told Alcuin, reaching out to squeeze his hand. "That cannot feel good."

[alcuin]

"You're very kind," Alcuin said, offering him a little smile. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to make it sound like some sort of tragedy. It's not. Really. I had a moment of melancholy tonight, but I'm really fine."

[whispersoflove]

"Love provides the greatest highs, and the most miserable lows," Anael pointed out as he pulled his hand back. "Never apologise for telling me of your feelings, Alcuin. I would not be here if I did not care."

[alcuin]

The taxi pulled up to Alcuin's townhouse then, and so Alcuin leaned over the seat and kissed Hani's cheek before pulling out his wallet so that he could pay the driver and they could be on their way.

[whispersoflove]

Anael smiled genuinely at the kiss, and the warmth that bloomed in his chest from the mutual affection. He realised belatedly that yes, they ought to pay, and so Alcuin had already done so. He climbed out of the taxi after him, and followed towards his building.

"Will you show me Anafiel's poetry, while we have that drink?" he requested gently, well ready for a 'no' if Alcuin did not feel like it tonight. But he would so love to read the poetry of a man that had meant so much to Alcuin.

[alcuin]

"Certainly," Alcuin said, genuinely pleased that Hani was interested. "I'm pleased you remembered." He led them inside them, revealing that it was clean and well decorated, with many bookshelves and lovely art on the walls.

"I can open a bottle of wine - do you prefer white or red?"

[whispersoflove]

Anael considered for a second, before answering, "White, please." His usual preference rested with red, but this, now, felt like more of a moment for white, for some reason, and he did love all wine.

"Thank you," he added, looking around curiously. "For inviting me to your home."

[alcuin]

"Oh, you're very welcome," Alcuin said, smiling at him before opening the refrigerator to pull out a chilled bottle of wine. "Thank you for seeing me home so I didn't have to come alone. Hannibal might come after he leaves the party, but it will be hours and hours yet."

[whispersoflove]

"I hope he comes," Anael replied honestly - it would please Alcuin after all. Away from the other man, it was so easy to focus on the warm love this one felt. As it was, he studied the titles of the books on the shelves, hands behind his back.

[alcuin]

Alcuin poured two glasses and brought one over to Anael.

"I don't have as much space here as where I lived with Anafiel," Alcuin admitted. "I sold a great many things, but most of the books I kept. The place is near to overflowing with them."

[whispersoflove]

"Thank you," Anael told him as he took the glass, eyes shining warmly as he turned to face Alcuin. "And so many of them poetry."

[alcuin]

"Yes," Alcuin agreed. "Feel free to have a look at any... oh! Yes. I'll be right back." And he went to go retrieve his book of Anafiel's poetry.

[whispersoflove]

Anael watched him move about with the same small smile playing on his lips, even as he took a sip of wine.

[alcuin]

Alcuin returned a moment later with a small book. It was bound in leather from a small press, a small print run, and was currently out of print. He flipped through it to a page, and handed it to Hani. "This is one of my favorites," he said.

O, dear my lord...
Let this breast on which you have leant
As close in love as a foe in battle,
Unarmed, unarmored, grappling chest to chest,
Alone in the glade
Where birds started at our voices,
Laughter winging airborne, we struggled
For advantage, neither giving quarter;
How I remember your arms beneath my grip,
Sliding like marble slickened;
Your chest pressed to mine
Heaving;
As our feet trampled the tender grass
Your eyes narrowed with tender cunning
And I unaware
Until your heel caught my knee; I buckled,
Falling,
Vanquished; O sovereign adored,
To be pierced ecstatic by the shaft of victory;
Sweet the pain of losing,
Sweeter this second struggle...

[whispersoflove]

Anael set his glass of wine down on the nearest piece of furniture, and whispered the poem aloud as he read it, the better to appreciate its melody, ending up perched on the edge of the couch when he was done, and looked up at Alcuin. One of his hands supported the book, and his other fingers were gentle on the page. "It's beautiful. The love, and the playfulness... The images are so clear."

[alcuin]

"He wrote most of these for someone he loved very much," Alcuin said. "And it was a promise to him that led Anafiel to take me in."

[whispersoflove]

"And from there, your own love grew," Anael completed with a smile. He turned to another page, at random, and found the next poem he read just as much to his taste.

[alcuin]

"I know that it was... unconventional," Alcuin said, thinking that a kinder word than what many would use. "I was young when he took me in. But I always saw him as more of a teacher than a father. And I didn't act on what I felt until I was an adult."

[whispersoflove]

"Unconventional, but not unnatural," Anael replied with a nod, turning to yet another random page. "Love takes many forms." He grew quiet as he murmured the next poem, then looked up at Alcuin, eyes warm. "He was quite talented, your Anafiel."

[alcuin]

"Oh yes," said Alcuin, smiling warmly at him. "I... I miss him very much."

[whispersoflove]

"Every love worth feeling is worth hurting over," Anael stated quietly, feeling for Alcuin. He was cut off from the One he loved above all else, and could well sympathise.

[alcuin]

"I suppose that's true," Alcuin said, and laid a hand gently on Anael's arm. "Thank you. For... I don't know, for caring. For saying the right things."

[whispersoflove]

"I am glad, if I am," Anael answered honestly, with a small smile at the touch.

[alcuin]

"It's good to have someone to talk to," Alcuin admitted, and moved closer to Hani on the couch.. "I haven't really told much of anyone about my relationship with Hannibal."