[Faolan gives Laurent half a look of exasperation as he buckles himself in as well, but only half. He can't truly be exasperated with him when their mood is so light, when Laurent is being so kind to him, and when he's sitting so close as he is. He's been sitting close a lot, lately. Like something of the barrier has come down between them, after Faolan's promises during Halloween. He's really not certain what to make of it. What he should be making of it.
He sets the thought aside for now and concentrates on answering the question instead, offering Laurent half a shrug.]
Not much, really. Work, I suppose. Sometimes I had a few drinks with the other guards, if I wasn't on duty. But it wasn't really...
[They weren't birthday drinks. It's not like the other guards knew it was any different a day from any other. They weren't exactly friends, after all, it was just... He shrugs again.]
It's usually the same as any other day. Though my parents call sometimes, I suppose.
[Faolan raises his eyebrows at that. Call them from the apartment? He supposes he could. Truth be told, he hadn't even considered it. He wonders what kind of a son that makes him out to be, in truth.]
Yeah, maybe I could.
[He turns to glance out the window for a moment at the following question as they drive though. Do they have the address? A more complicated question than Laurent probably assumes it to be.]
They... Might. I don't know, we're not. We only really speak on holidays and birthdays, my parents and I. My sister has the address for the apartment, in case she needs me for anything. They can get it from her if they want to.
[He usually leaves the decision of reaching out up to them, these days.]
Well, I wouldn't recommend you hand it out to everyone of course. But I don't see why they shouldn't have it.
[ Security permitting, of course. The car turns down a side street and Laurent squints out the window, leans forward after a moment. ]
Here is fine.
[ With that, the driver pulls over a little and sets on his hazard lights, and Laurent undoes his seat-belt and slips from the car -- waiting on the pavement for Faolan to follow him out. ]
[Yes, he does know better than that, thank you Laurent. He offers another little shrug as the car starts to pull to a stop.]
It's not that they can't have it, it's just. Complicated, yeah? We don't really talk much anymore, they don't... Really approve of the choices I've made. The direction I've taken my life.
[He moves to slide out of the car after Laurent, running a hand through his hair as he does, glancing aside at the other man.] They've made it very clear that it's not that they don't love me any more. It's just that they're disappointed I didn't follow through on my dreams and make something more of myself, that's all.
Something more? Is there something wrong with being a bodyguard? I'm quite grateful to have one, myself. I'm sure plenty of people are.
[ Isn't the usual thing for parents to disapprove of arts degrees, like music? To prefer something more practical? Or is it that being a bodyguard is too dangerous? Laurent frowns as he begins to walk, eyes flitting between studying Faolan and the pavement ahead. ]
[It's probably most likely something to do with the latter, though Faolan is a grown man and free to make his own choices, including training himself to risk his life and safety for the life and safety of other people.
Faolan moves to stick his hands in his pockets, letting out a sigh.]
They paid a lot of money for me to attend a conservatory. They were so happy for me when I got into the Academy. And then... [Dubhan died] I withdrew. They thought it would be a phase, that I would recover and they could beg the school back into accepting me again. My father is a lawyer, he can be very... Convincing, when he puts his mind to something. But I can be stubborn too. And this is what I decided for myself instead. [He shrugs again; he keeps doing that, like maybe doing so might make it seem like less serious a topic. He didn't really mean to bring it up. But he also doesn't feel like keeping secrets from Laurent anymore...]
They haven't ever really come to terms with it. My sister, my younger sister, acts as something of our go-between. It's worked well enough so far, I suppose.
[ Laurent slows down and stops outside a white building, which on taking a step back and looking appears to be a music shop. Although, from the look of it, it might be closed?
Laurent presses what appears to be a doorbell or buzzer of some sort and puts his hands back into his pocket. ]
I did think that was why we were here. Maybe your parents will even like me if you tell them I bought you a keyboard?
[ He jerks an eyebrow, and a second later the door is opening and a man is smiling brightly and waving them inside. Although the place definitely has other instruments in the window, the majority of the shop seems to have been re-arranged to set up a wide variety of keyboards for playing.
So that Faolan can find one he likes, of course. He needs to test them to be sure, in Laurent's opinion. ]
[Faolan is so preoccupied with the thought he is sharing that he isn't paying attention to their surroundings as well as he should. He could undoubtedly have been able to see someone coming to threaten Laurent, but as far as anticipating where they stop? Laurent ringing the bell and the man letting them into the shop to be shown to the center of a room ful of keyboards?
Despite his excitement leading up to the anticipation of this moment, he had honestly started to convince himself that he had been mistaken. Thus now for this turn of events to occur, it throws him for another turn yet again.
Faolan walks dazedly into the shop behind the owner, taking in his surroundings in disbelief before turning back to Laurent. His mouth all but hanging open in the face of the younger man's nonchalance.]
[ Laurent shrugs off his coat and drapes it over his arm, lofting at eyebrow at Faolan as the shop owner shuts the door again and comes back to fuss at them. Tea? Coffee? Do they want something to eat? ]
That was the agreement. I buy you a keyboard and you play for me. Tea would be lovely, thank you. Jasmine or chamomile if you have it?
[ He flashes the man a smile and gives up his coat when prompted. ]
[The shop owner fusses at Faolan to give up his coat as well and he does so dazedly, only worrying after the fact that giving up his coat will expose his gun but it seems not to bother the man. Maybe he's grown immune to the eccentricities of life here in this city, he can't say for certain.
Glancing back to Laurent, he shoots him a look of awe before he's stepping forward across the room to where the keyboards are gathered. He could probably use a coffee but he'd also probably be terribly distracted from it. He runs his fingers over the keys of one of them without pressing down, before glancing back to Laurent once more.]
I. I was starting to wonder whether you'd even remembered saying it, but this... [Faolan glances around the store, before realizing something retrospectively and glancing back to Laurent to ask:] Did you have the shop close today? For this?
I wanted to make sure they had plenty in store for you to try, and that you didn't feel rushed.
[ So obviously the solution was to have the shop close for a while.
Laurent, that's ridiculous. ]
If none of them appeal, we can always try something else.
[ Just in case Faolan has a specialised taste in keyboards that somehow this shop has failed to cater to. The majority of the ones they've set out and plugged up appear to be mid to high end, but Laurent didn't particularly know if Faolan had a brand preference. He doesn't know anything at all about keyboards, after all. ]
[So he didn't feel rushed. Faolan continues to gape at the younger man for a moment longer, before he turns to the keyboards themselves. A few of the models aren't quite what he would pick for himself, to be fair, but there are still more than enough to choose between. Tentatively he presses down on one of the keys and yes, proves that they are all plugged in and waiting for him to test them out.]
Would I have to keep it in my room?
[That would probably influence the size of the instrument he's choosing, after all. How easy it is to put it away.]
[ Would he? Laurent considers that, moving to straddle on a small stool in front of one of the keyboards. ]
Not necessarily. I'd thought you might want to keep it there so you could play with a degree of privacy, but I don't mind if you want to bring it into the living room.
[ He supposes it's up to Faolan, and how often he wants to play it. Laurent does play music sometimes, after all, through his speakers. He doesn't want Faolan to feel he has to wait for Laurent to clear out of the room to play all the time, but equally he doesn't want Faolan to feel he has to hide away with it. ]
You could set up one of the spare rooms. Re-arrange it to make space for that, if space is a concern?
[Faolan walks in a circle around Laurent and the keyboards, before settling into the seat of one of the first he finds with a full stand and damper pedals.]
A little. [He confesses, reaching out to rest his hands on the keys. It's been a while since he's played, and he's a little rusty, but not so much that he's forgotten everything that he's learned before. Hesitating for a moment, he plays the opening line of a piece, before stopping sheepishly and glancing up at Laurent with a smile. Not bad, but the touch is off.] They've all got ports for headphones. Since they're digital. If you're worried about the noise. Or we could use a spare room, if you'd like. I just...
[He traces a key with his finger.] You said you'd let me play for you? It's not easily done without having to move it in and out. Hiding it away. It's not a guitar, to easily slide under the bed until I feel like pulling it out. I'd rather... Leave it set up somewhere. If that's alright? [Somewhere where it won't get in the way of his morning routine. Somewhere a little less 'his' space than he recognizes his bedroom to be. Than Laurent treats his bedroom to be.]
If that's what you like. I just don't want you to feel you have to sit out in the open to play, to be around me to play. I suppose I could get out of your way, but I don't think you'd ask me to move. I'm aware my company isn't always pleasant.
[ He jerks an eyebrow at Faolan again, turns a little to run his fingers idly over the keyboard he's sat beside. He wouldn't know which keys to press to make anything like music, but it's tempting to fidget. ]
Edited (repetition and short stilted sentences) 2017-11-28 21:20 (UTC)
[He probably wouldn't ask him to move, in all honesty. If he wanted to be alone to play, it takes something away from the moment to have to ask for the room to be cleared to get to do so. He supposes that Laurent does have something of a point.
Standing, Faolan shifts to another keyboard once over that catches his eye. Pressing a key to test the touch again before taking a set on the bench and playing another few lines of music to test it out in action. Pausing after he's done so before looking back to Laurent.]
Maybe... We could have a music room then? If. That's alright with you, of course. [He's well aware that it's not his apartment. That he's not even paying rent there, to ask for a second room for his own purposes feels like he's demanding a lot that he might not be truly owed.]
Well the spare rooms haven't seen any use for five months, I don't see a problem with giving one up. Although it might take a little extra time to move the furniture to tidy it up properly, and the acoustics might be terrible.
[ He drums his fingers on either side of the stool he's straddling properly. ]
Would you need that textured foam on the wall? The type they have in studios. I assume it's something to do with acoustics, or is that sound proofing?
It's mostly for soundproofing for recordings. Keeps the sound from coming in or out, dampens it from reverberation. I don't know that it's necessary, unless you're looking for me to start selling albums...
[Faolan quirks a smile at the younger man. The younger man who obviously knows nothing about any of this but is willing to spend money on it nonetheless. To give up rooms in his home. To listen to him play without complaint. To sit through Faolan's ranting on the topic whenever he might get carried away. All of it -- to make him happy.
Faolan's smile softens, and he turns on the bench towards the younger man, studying him silently for a moment before reaching out to him with a hand.]
[He huffs out the breath of a laugh in response to Laurent's gentle protesting.]
Tempting. Definitely tempting.
[Once Laurent has taken his hand Faolan closes his fingers around the younger man's, gently swiping his thumb over Laurent's knuckles as he smiles up at him softly.]
I... Thank you. For this. For all of it. For taking me here and arranging all of this for me, I... [He shakes his head.] It means a lot. And I...
[His eyes flick to the doorway, then down to the ground, before back up to Laurent with another, more private smile on his face as he continues, more quietly this time:] I don't suppose you might come closer still so that I can thank you properly...
[He really is too short to just tug Laurent down and hope for the best, especially since he is seated and Laurent is not, much as he may be fantasizing about doing exactly that.]
[ He moves to sit on one end of the stool not taken up by Faolan, releasing his hand in the process, and slides up until their legs touch. One hand lifts to run over the keys slowly, not applying enough pressure to play, then Laurent drops his hands into his lap and smiles at Faolan. ]
[Faolan tosses one more glance aside at the direction the shop keeper had disappeared, before turning in his seat to face him more easily.]
[He reaches for Laurent's hands, raising one of them to his lips to press a kiss to his knuckles.] Thank you.
[He leans in to tuck his face into the crook of Laurent's neck, breathing in the smell of his skin before turning his head to press a second kiss to the skin under his lips.] Thank you.
[He moves to pull back slightly. Reaching a hand to cup the side of Laurent's face and trace his thumb along the line of his jaw. Studying his expression for a long moment before smiling at him again and leaning in to press a third kiss against the younger man's lips, long and lingering.] Thank you.
[ Laurent turns slightly on the bench to face Faolan as he kisses his fingers, smiles as he leans in close and lets him kiss at his chin -- his lips finally. He doesn't push into it, just allows Faolan to direct, but he doesn't pull away either. ]
You haven't even picked one yet.
[ Gentle, teasing. ]
But you're welcome. Is that my tea?
[ He rests a hand on Faolan's shoulder to keep him from leaping up, smiles at the shop owner then reaches to take the cup of tea from him. ]
[Faolan starts at the mention of the tea. The shop owner. It's only Laurent's (knowing) hand on his shoulder that keeps him in place, though it doesn't stop him from jerking in response to the realization that they are no longer alone. Pulling away enough for Laurent to take his tea from the other man before turning back to the keyboard in front of him, a healthy flush coloring his face.]
I'm. I'm working on it. It's all about the touch and the sound.
[He glances back at the shop keeper before back at the keyboard. Nope, definitely cannot face the man after that, not so soon after anyway.]
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He sets the thought aside for now and concentrates on answering the question instead, offering Laurent half a shrug.]
Not much, really. Work, I suppose. Sometimes I had a few drinks with the other guards, if I wasn't on duty. But it wasn't really...
[They weren't birthday drinks. It's not like the other guards knew it was any different a day from any other. They weren't exactly friends, after all, it was just... He shrugs again.]
It's usually the same as any other day. Though my parents call sometimes, I suppose.
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[ So that Laurent is paying the overseas call charge, that is. That way it won't show up on Faolan's mobile bill, even if it is a work phone. ]
Do they have this address?
[ To send something to. If they send things? Laurent isn't sure if Faolan's family is the cards and presents sort. ]
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Yeah, maybe I could.
[He turns to glance out the window for a moment at the following question as they drive though. Do they have the address? A more complicated question than Laurent probably assumes it to be.]
They... Might. I don't know, we're not. We only really speak on holidays and birthdays, my parents and I. My sister has the address for the apartment, in case she needs me for anything. They can get it from her if they want to.
[He usually leaves the decision of reaching out up to them, these days.]
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[ Security permitting, of course. The car turns down a side street and Laurent squints out the window, leans forward after a moment. ]
Here is fine.
[ With that, the driver pulls over a little and sets on his hazard lights, and Laurent undoes his seat-belt and slips from the car -- waiting on the pavement for Faolan to follow him out. ]
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It's not that they can't have it, it's just. Complicated, yeah? We don't really talk much anymore, they don't... Really approve of the choices I've made. The direction I've taken my life.
[He moves to slide out of the car after Laurent, running a hand through his hair as he does, glancing aside at the other man.] They've made it very clear that it's not that they don't love me any more. It's just that they're disappointed I didn't follow through on my dreams and make something more of myself, that's all.
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[ Isn't the usual thing for parents to disapprove of arts degrees, like music? To prefer something more practical? Or is it that being a bodyguard is too dangerous? Laurent frowns as he begins to walk, eyes flitting between studying Faolan and the pavement ahead. ]
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Faolan moves to stick his hands in his pockets, letting out a sigh.]
They paid a lot of money for me to attend a conservatory. They were so happy for me when I got into the Academy. And then... [Dubhan died] I withdrew. They thought it would be a phase, that I would recover and they could beg the school back into accepting me again. My father is a lawyer, he can be very... Convincing, when he puts his mind to something. But I can be stubborn too. And this is what I decided for myself instead. [He shrugs again; he keeps doing that, like maybe doing so might make it seem like less serious a topic. He didn't really mean to bring it up. But he also doesn't feel like keeping secrets from Laurent anymore...]
They haven't ever really come to terms with it. My sister, my younger sister, acts as something of our go-between. It's worked well enough so far, I suppose.
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[ Laurent slows down and stops outside a white building, which on taking a step back and looking appears to be a music shop. Although, from the look of it, it might be closed?
Laurent presses what appears to be a doorbell or buzzer of some sort and puts his hands back into his pocket. ]
I did think that was why we were here. Maybe your parents will even like me if you tell them I bought you a keyboard?
[ He jerks an eyebrow, and a second later the door is opening and a man is smiling brightly and waving them inside. Although the place definitely has other instruments in the window, the majority of the shop seems to have been re-arranged to set up a wide variety of keyboards for playing.
So that Faolan can find one he likes, of course. He needs to test them to be sure, in Laurent's opinion. ]
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Despite his excitement leading up to the anticipation of this moment, he had honestly started to convince himself that he had been mistaken. Thus now for this turn of events to occur, it throws him for another turn yet again.
Faolan walks dazedly into the shop behind the owner, taking in his surroundings in disbelief before turning back to Laurent. His mouth all but hanging open in the face of the younger man's nonchalance.]
You... You really meant it...?
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[ Laurent shrugs off his coat and drapes it over his arm, lofting at eyebrow at Faolan as the shop owner shuts the door again and comes back to fuss at them. Tea? Coffee? Do they want something to eat? ]
That was the agreement. I buy you a keyboard and you play for me. Tea would be lovely, thank you. Jasmine or chamomile if you have it?
[ He flashes the man a smile and gives up his coat when prompted. ]
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Glancing back to Laurent, he shoots him a look of awe before he's stepping forward across the room to where the keyboards are gathered. He could probably use a coffee but he'd also probably be terribly distracted from it. He runs his fingers over the keys of one of them without pressing down, before glancing back to Laurent once more.]
I. I was starting to wonder whether you'd even remembered saying it, but this... [Faolan glances around the store, before realizing something retrospectively and glancing back to Laurent to ask:] Did you have the shop close today? For this?
[For him.]
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[ So obviously the solution was to have the shop close for a while.
Laurent, that's ridiculous. ]
If none of them appeal, we can always try something else.
[ Just in case Faolan has a specialised taste in keyboards that somehow this shop has failed to cater to. The majority of the ones they've set out and plugged up appear to be mid to high end, but Laurent didn't particularly know if Faolan had a brand preference. He doesn't know anything at all about keyboards, after all. ]
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Would I have to keep it in my room?
[That would probably influence the size of the instrument he's choosing, after all. How easy it is to put it away.]
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Not necessarily. I'd thought you might want to keep it there so you could play with a degree of privacy, but I don't mind if you want to bring it into the living room.
[ He supposes it's up to Faolan, and how often he wants to play it. Laurent does play music sometimes, after all, through his speakers. He doesn't want Faolan to feel he has to wait for Laurent to clear out of the room to play all the time, but equally he doesn't want Faolan to feel he has to hide away with it. ]
You could set up one of the spare rooms. Re-arrange it to make space for that, if space is a concern?
[ A little music room of sorts. ]
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A little. [He confesses, reaching out to rest his hands on the keys. It's been a while since he's played, and he's a little rusty, but not so much that he's forgotten everything that he's learned before. Hesitating for a moment, he plays the opening line of a piece, before stopping sheepishly and glancing up at Laurent with a smile. Not bad, but the touch is off.] They've all got ports for headphones. Since they're digital. If you're worried about the noise. Or we could use a spare room, if you'd like. I just...
[He traces a key with his finger.] You said you'd let me play for you? It's not easily done without having to move it in and out. Hiding it away. It's not a guitar, to easily slide under the bed until I feel like pulling it out. I'd rather... Leave it set up somewhere. If that's alright? [Somewhere where it won't get in the way of his morning routine. Somewhere a little less 'his' space than he recognizes his bedroom to be. Than Laurent treats his bedroom to be.]
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[ He jerks an eyebrow at Faolan again, turns a little to run his fingers idly over the keyboard he's sat beside. He wouldn't know which keys to press to make anything like music, but it's tempting to fidget. ]
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Standing, Faolan shifts to another keyboard once over that catches his eye. Pressing a key to test the touch again before taking a set on the bench and playing another few lines of music to test it out in action. Pausing after he's done so before looking back to Laurent.]
Maybe... We could have a music room then? If. That's alright with you, of course. [He's well aware that it's not his apartment. That he's not even paying rent there, to ask for a second room for his own purposes feels like he's demanding a lot that he might not be truly owed.]
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[ He drums his fingers on either side of the stool he's straddling properly. ]
Would you need that textured foam on the wall? The type they have in studios. I assume it's something to do with acoustics, or is that sound proofing?
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[Faolan quirks a smile at the younger man. The younger man who obviously knows nothing about any of this but is willing to spend money on it nonetheless. To give up rooms in his home. To listen to him play without complaint. To sit through Faolan's ranting on the topic whenever he might get carried away. All of it -- to make him happy.
Faolan's smile softens, and he turns on the bench towards the younger man, studying him silently for a moment before reaching out to him with a hand.]
Come here. [He asks, softly.]
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If you're expecting an accompaniment you'll be dissapointed, unless it's just one note.
[ He thinks he could press one note over and over. That's within his skill set.
Stopping by where Faolan is sat he takes his hand, tilts his head at him curiously. ]
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Tempting. Definitely tempting.
[Once Laurent has taken his hand Faolan closes his fingers around the younger man's, gently swiping his thumb over Laurent's knuckles as he smiles up at him softly.]
I... Thank you. For this. For all of it. For taking me here and arranging all of this for me, I... [He shakes his head.] It means a lot. And I...
[His eyes flick to the doorway, then down to the ground, before back up to Laurent with another, more private smile on his face as he continues, more quietly this time:] I don't suppose you might come closer still so that I can thank you properly...
[He really is too short to just tug Laurent down and hope for the best, especially since he is seated and Laurent is not, much as he may be fantasizing about doing exactly that.]
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[ He moves to sit on one end of the stool not taken up by Faolan, releasing his hand in the process, and slides up until their legs touch. One hand lifts to run over the keys slowly, not applying enough pressure to play, then Laurent drops his hands into his lap and smiles at Faolan. ]
Well?
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[He reaches for Laurent's hands, raising one of them to his lips to press a kiss to his knuckles.] Thank you.
[He leans in to tuck his face into the crook of Laurent's neck, breathing in the smell of his skin before turning his head to press a second kiss to the skin under his lips.] Thank you.
[He moves to pull back slightly. Reaching a hand to cup the side of Laurent's face and trace his thumb along the line of his jaw. Studying his expression for a long moment before smiling at him again and leaning in to press a third kiss against the younger man's lips, long and lingering.] Thank you.
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You haven't even picked one yet.
[ Gentle, teasing. ]
But you're welcome. Is that my tea?
[ He rests a hand on Faolan's shoulder to keep him from leaping up, smiles at the shop owner then reaches to take the cup of tea from him. ]
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I'm. I'm working on it. It's all about the touch and the sound.
[He glances back at the shop keeper before back at the keyboard. Nope, definitely cannot face the man after that, not so soon after anyway.]
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