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]

"Oh, we're a good pair then," Alcuin said with a little laugh. "Here, let's get a taxi. And you can come in for a drink if you like."

[whispersoflove]

"Oh," Anael smiled. He had not taken a taxi in decades. "That would be lovely."

They managed to flag down a black cab, and soon enough they were on their way to Alcuin's home, safely ensconced in the back.

"Did you have a good evening, Alcuin?" Anael asked, looking over at his friend.

[alcuin]

"Oh, well..." Alcuin hesitated, not sure if he should be be honest, but Hannibal certainly wouldn't begrudge him talking to someone, would he?

"Sometimes it can be a little difficult to be at events like this with Hannibal, because I don't want to be too... open, with our relationship."

[whispersoflove]

"So you have a relationship," Anael echoed, his expression one of open curiosity. Of course, he had seen the kiss, but he thought that 'relationship' entailed more than simple physical intimacy, but a certain... commitment.

[alcuin]

"Well, I mean..." Alcuin had already told Hani about his feelings for Hannibal, and that they were together in a sense. So after a moment he said, "He told me he loves me."

[whispersoflove]

Anael frowned slightly; he could not help it, for having felt no such warmth from Hannibal. "That's... unexpected." Both because of what he had felt, and from what Alcuin had told him, before.

[alcuin]

A brief expression of surprise and a touch of hurt flashed across Alcuin's face. "I suppose it was, a bit."

[whispersoflove]

"You've said he didn't feel the same way about you," Anael amended, to take the edge off of his remark. He could hardly tell Alcuin what he knew about Hannibal.

[alcuin]

"And I was wrong," Alcuin said quietly. "I think... perhaps he was surprised himself. It seemed difficult for him to admit."

[whispersoflove]

"So you are happy in love again," Anael stated hopefully, despite his own unease.

[alcuin]

"I wasn't not before," Alcuin said with a little smile. "But I am happy, yes. And as for what I was feeling tonight... loving someone does not mean that you're never lonely."

[whispersoflove]

"True," Anael replied, with a soft, echoing smile. "On both counts."

He ought not to meddle. These things never ended well, when he did. He had learned that lesson a long time ago.

[alcuin]

"Though." Alcuin sighed, a little. "I was a bit envious when I saw him dancing with other people. Not jealous - I don't mind even mind if he's intimate with someone else, I don't think it takes away from what he feels for me. But envious of their position because I would like to be more public in my affection for him."

[whispersoflove]

"Why won't he be?" Anael asked evenly. He had thought that society had evolved enough in this part of the world, in such matters, that there was little enough to fear.

[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."