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Post by Xanthe on Oct 1, 2012 23:02:51 GMT -5
 \\-Sweeter than the morning dew-//
\\-A chance, a glance, and tea for two.-//
Twelve chimes. Each one of them echoed through the halls of the quiet teahouse on an elegant chord. Its inhabitants were so habitual. Even with clients every day, faithful and new, the workers were easily predicted. Windows decorated along the walls spoke highly of a beautiful day outside. Leaves were gently brushed by a delicate wind that led a few of them astray. Fluffed, white clouds littered the brilliant sky and provided comfort and ease from the abrasive sunlight. Yes, it was a beautiful afternoon. What more could someone want?
Coffee. Steps interrupted that peaceful serenity. They only ceased when plush carpet covered the marble flooring that stretched as far as the eye could see. On the eleventh chime, the man paused. Stairs lay before him. A hand raised to grip the banister as his gaze found the face of a large grandfather clock. Noon. If the owner knew anything, he knew that it wasn't lunch time. No, it was teatime. It had been such for years. At least, it was for one particular inhabitant of the teahouse. Most of his employees didn't partake until the evening hours. Only one of them followed such routine religiously. And only one of them could have pulled him down that spiraling set of stairs when he had some much work awaiting him upstairs.
For once, the dark-haired man was grateful for an empty frontroom. No clients waiting meant no pleasantries to be made. He wasn't in the mood to welcome anyone. As he passed over the last of the steps, Xanthe tensed. It had not been long ago, that he'd caught a rather unwelcome sight upon entering his establishment. Though a calm face had betrayed what lay beneath, Xanthe had not spoken of it since. He was determined not to. After all, there was no reason. His steps would carry him towards that kitchen, where he could hear the teapot whistling happily. From the scent, it was a sweet brew. That was the last sign. Only one cared for such a gentle flavor.
"Only tea?" He asked. The question was aimed at the back of a slender man, with tousled pink hair. From the look of him, he'd been outside where the breeze might've gotten a hold of him. Gentle steps slowed as he approached the counter top, and reached above him to pull down a small porcelain pitcher. Sugar cubes lay dormant inside of them. A tiny spoon was perched atop them. "It's lunch time." To others, he would sound harsh. His voice always carried such an air of command. With Linneus, though, the tone dropped to a softer one, deeper than even Xanthe realized. |
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Post by Linneus on Oct 2, 2012 0:52:50 GMT -5
( I D O I T E V E R Y T I M E Y O U R E K I L L I N G M E N O W )
& i won't be D E N I E D by you
the A N I M A L inside of you
Linneus felt numb. Numb all over and cold. Like when he was young and working in the stables. Dirt under his fingernails, hay in his hair, the grime so set into his skin it felt like a part of him. He'd spend hours out there without gloves or a proper sweater and at first the cold would be uncomfortable, then painful, then it would slowly fade away to a stiff numbness.
Tea. Tea would feel good and warm and loosen this terrible numbness from his skin.
He drifted into the kitchen, decided on strawberry before the kettle could even boil. He was looking for the sugar when a deep, familiar voice startled him from the process.
"Only tea?" An arm extended and set the sugar bowl before him. "It's lunch time." Linneus looked down at the sugar bowl for a long moment, muscles tense, before shifting his gaze up to Xanthe. Slow and tentative because he knew what was in store for him when they locked eyes.
The sight of him was like pressing frost bitten hands to the heat of a fire. Painful, almost unbearable, but so, so perfect. The numbness eased and gave way to the deep ache of seeing Xanthe.
Linneus dropped a few sugar cubes into his tea. Instantly, the sweet smell of strawberry tea drifted up and around him. "Yes," he murmured, "I'm not terribly hungry."
He looked over him, another pang of longing rattling through his veins. Hot and sharp. "I assume you're here for coffee. I'll start a pot." He set down his tea and turned. Numbness crept back over him. Looking away from Xanthe was easier. Perhaps it was better that way.
Gilder then came, unbidden to his thoughts. Being around Gilder wasn't cold, but it wasn't hot either. It wasn't the frost covered numbness Linneus had learned to embrace during his appointments. It wasn't the rush of fire that licked at his flesh when he saw Xanthe. It didn't singe his skin and set his bones on fire. Gilder was a gentle warmth. Warm water or tea in a cup. Linneus smiled, momentarily soothed. Not quite numb, but not quite alive either
[/left][/blockquote][/blockquote] [/center]
-- tagged:[/b][/i] Xanthe -- lyrics:[/b][/i] Animal - Neon Trees -- credits:[/b][/i] LikeAStariNight @ Caution 2.0[/size] |
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Post by Xanthe on Oct 5, 2012 22:15:59 GMT -5
 Someday, somehow
I'm gonna make it all right
But not right now
I know you're wondering when Porcelain slid over the counter top with a light scrape. It wouldn't stop till it was set perfectly in front of the pink-haired youth. There, the sugar would wait, peering up with a beautiful sheen of snow-kissed white. Waiting and wanting for Linneus to partake in its sweetest of natures. When fingers finally plucked one up, the sugar seemed to bid to him again. Not just one, take two~ Even Xanthe knew that the younger man could not stop with just a single helping. When a second cube 'plop'd into the awaiting tea, Xanthe almost smiled. Almost. Thankfully, some things never changed. "Yes. I'm not terribly hungry.""You need to eat." He was firm in his words, but wasn't he always? Yet, despite the clear authority in such a tone, it was... different, for Linneus. Where as he'd never worry about whether or not Claret, Axis, or any other members of the Teahouse were eating, when it came to a certain someone... he was a bit too invested. Xanthe knew it. Linneus might have, though in truth, he did his best to keep it at bay. Blue eyes flickered up, almost carefully, and then they were locked. His own amber hues were steady, unreadable. Yet he found himself leaning in. Slightly at first, but it was such a steady build that he was lingering just inches away from the other. How did he always find his way back here? It was some dreadful curse, to be a moth attracted to such a beautiful flame. One that did not glow red, but a rare pink quartz. It was all he could do, to keep his hands down on the counter. He had almost successfully (and unconsciously) trapped Linneus there. But before either knew it, he'd slipped away. "I assume you're here for coffee. I'll start a pot."One of the hands that had been resting on that counter swept up and pushed bangs that were a bit too long for their own good out of his view. They were becoming troublesome. His eyes lingered on the back of simple clothes- Linneus rarely missed a chance to adorn himself. He was quiet good at keeping up appearances. It was a trait the two had in common. Approaching him from behind, he would reach, to grip the young man's shoulders. His hands weren't cold, and they weren't warm, but they were hot. That same flame that the other envisioned only seemed to burn when he came into such close contact with this man, this man who had been such a part of his life. "Lunch first." |
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Post by Linneus on Oct 15, 2012 23:21:30 GMT -5
( I D O I T E V E R Y T I M E Y O U R E K I L L I N G M E N O W )
& i won't be D E N I E D by you
the A N I M A L inside of you
Life sung electric under Linneus' skin at Xanthe's touch. He shuddered all over, hands braced on the counter in front of him. His mind skittered to memory; kissing in Xanthe's office, the hot press of mouths and bodies, the ache of forcing him to leave. He huffed, shuddering, and turned to look at the hand on his shoulder. The gold loop of a wedding band over his ring finger. He could always turn to the ring to anchor him to reality. To remind him of what he couldn't have.
"Alright." He managed, voice a little soft around the edges. He cleared his throat. "Lunch first."
Linneus turned under his hand and immediately recognized his mistake. Turning put him nearly nose to nose with Xanthe. He jerked back against the counter and slipped out into more open space. Once he'd put some distance between them he could breathe easier. His heart slowed and his thoughts cleared. But still, just the proximity of Xanthe made every synapse sing electric. Buzz and hum in a way Linneus didn't know how to handle, had never been able to handle, probably couldn't handle.
First things first: find something to eat. "Is there anything you're, ah, hungry for?" He looked back to Xanthe. Another mistake. The sight of him burned and ached. What Linneus wouldn't do to reach for him. To hold his hand. As a little boy, Linneus could hold his hand in an innocent gesture. Older and the gesture held more meaning. Now...now he couldn't do it at all. He missed the lock of fingers, the slide of palms. But even if Xanthe did take his hand now, it would be obscured by his wedding ring. Either Linneus would feel it - cold and hard against his skin - or feel its absence - a lie in its vacancy.
Linneus took a deep breath. He could do this. Had to. If he didn't, if he ignored Xanthe, he could lose him forever. To his wife. To Lilith. Even this strange, tenuous and not-quite friendship was better than a complete lack of Xanthe.
But if he didn't keep his distance. If he threw himself at Xanthe, let him take him over his desk top, sat in his lap and kissed him in the garden; then he would be no better than Lilith. Nothing more than Xanthe's whore. Linneus shied away from that notion. If he let that happen, he'd be worthless. A side dish. Like sugar in a bowl.
Worse yet, Linneus could fall more and more in love with him until his heart swelled from unrequited love and burst. He almost laughed at his own drama there, but it felt real. It felt possible. It felt imminent.
So Linneus picked something trivial. Found a way to fil the silence. "I'm partial to cucumber sandwiches, if you don't mind."
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-- tagged:[/b][/i] Xanthe -- lyrics:[/b][/i] Animal - Neon Trees -- credits:[/b][/i] LikeAStariNight @ Caution 2.0[/size] |
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