crescentview | FALL CATCH-ALL

[ Trahearne hums in agreement. He's probably come here a couple of times. It's good.

He scans the appetizers before glancing over at Syrlya's menu--not like it's any different, but. ]

Why not? The calamari sounds nice, or perhaps the caprese salad.

What do you think?

[ They'll get to the chocolates. ]

Why not calamari? That isn't something I get to eat much. [Actually, has he ever properly had it? He can't recall.

He gaze continues to travel the menu, getting an idea of what he wants to order for the proper meal.

And then he sets it flat on the table, folding his hands over it as he looks up at Trahearne.]

Calamari it is, then.

[ Squid! A rare treat, he thinks.

Trahearne does the same, scanning the food, wondering what he should eat--if he should have dessert, especially since he brought the chocolates--when he realizes Syrlya is quiet. He looks up to see him looking at him, and a smile crosses his face. ]

Yes?

Hm? Nothing. [He just wanted to look at Trahearne's face.

But before he can explain himself the waiter returns, popping open the champagne and pouring their flutes. Syrlya requests the appetizer, but after a quick look with Trahearne asks for a little more time to decide their meal.

Once the waiter leaves, Syrlya takes his glass and holds it up at a tilt--for a toast.]

[ Trahearne just smiles back. Nothing, in this case, is perfectly fine.

With flute in hand, he turns to Syrlya and tips his glass towards him, the quiet clink filling their corner of the restaurant.

Trahearne's eyes are fixed on Syrlya the entire time, though, admiring how he looks in the low restaurant lighting. ]

To... [ He pauses for a moment in thought, eyes fixed on him. And when he makes up his mind, his smile widens. ] ...To us.

[Syrlya chuckles, because that's exactly what he was thinking of anyway.] To us.

[And then he tips back half the flute because he doesn't need manners in front of Trahearne.]

[ Trahearne is the same. Who cares? There's plenty more champagne, anyway.

As he sets his glass down, he looks to Syrlya with a refreshed, undaunted smile. ]

I am genuinely happy to be here with you.

I hope so! I'd hate to be the only one who is. [He sips more champagne before setting his glass down.] So, let's catch up. What's been exciting outside of tiling the land and accidental memory displays?

[ Trahearne hums in thought. He honestly really likes tilling the land! Farming is fun! But he'll oblige. ]

I don't know if it was a curse of sorts, but I could hear everything the animals on the island were saying for most of last week. [ His eyes go wide for a moment. ] They have quite a lot to say.

[ lewd. creatures. ]

Oh? [Syrlya props his chin on his hand. He supposes that's not the same as the talking bear.] And what sort of things did they say?

There is quite a complicated political landscape on this island.

[ He reaches for his flute again, except rotating it in his hands to play with it as he recalls some conversations he'd overheard. ]

And a very complicated web of relationships. The pigeons, in particular, are vicious towards one another.

[ they could give the people here a run for their money... ]

Oh, so there are factions among the pigeons, or do they just all hate one another? [He's going to make Trahearne answer seriously, even if he just thinks it's funny.]

[ IT IS GENUINELY FUNNY. And Trahearne will answer seriously, because he's apparently a pigeon gossip now. ]

There seem to be clear factions, yet these lines are quite fluid. I could only understand them for scarcely a week, yet I saw the divides between social groups change at least once a day. [ He takes a sip of his champagne. ] I am glad we are not pigeons.

[ As he sets his drink down, he smiles. ] And? What sort of things have you been up to?

[Syrlya pauses, considering that. He can't really talk about... everything with Adelis and Mishka. Partly because it's personal, partly because it would kill the mood. So would everything he saw of people's memories...]

I've been exchanging those chocolates. Of course, they do strange things which seems expected by this point... though I have not worked out just what effect it causes. I have foraged so many berries. I almost wonder if I should give them to someone who can make something before they turn.

[ Trahearne is lucky he was suddenly hit with odd curses right after the ship, giving him something to talk about.

He does not want to talk about Mishka, and he is cognizant that is not the appropriate topic for them.

Trahearne brightens a bit. ] You should speak to Kaspar, or Ori. I'm sure either one of them could concoct something delicious out of your berries. They'd appreciate it.

Did you-- [ He reaches for his chocolate and begins to speak...when the waiter comes back to take their order!

Oh well. They can continue after this. Trahearne hurriedly opens his menu to order a seafood risotto. ]

[Oh, and bringing them to Kaspar would be so easy since he's Trahearne's roommate. Maybe Syrlya could even send them along with Trahearne after this--

The chocolates are missed entirely as the waiter returns with their appetizer and to take their orders.]

I'll have the creamy lemon butter salmon and asparagus. [He offers his menu politely. And once the waiter collects them he refills their champagne and then leaves again.]

[ Seafood all around! It must be good, considering how they live on an island.

With the menu gone and the glass refilled, Trahearne takes his glass and holds it close.

He tilts his head. Back on topic-- ]

Did you bring your chocolates with you?

Oh, no, I left them in the ice box back home. [Refrigerator. He starts on some of the calamari, dipping it in the sauce and popping it on his mouth. That earns a hum of satisfaction.]

[ Ah, that's unfortunate. Trahearne picks at the calamari as well, dunking it in sauce. Is he getting any batter or squid? Doesn't matter.

After a moment of chewing-- ]

I brought mine. [ There's a little twinkle in his eyes. ] We can share later.

Oh? [That makes him pause halfway into his flute, raising a brow.] What do yours do?

[ Without another word, Trahearne reaches for the box, takes out a piece, and pops it in his mouth. As he chews, he never lets his gaze leave Syrlya, studying him as he waits for the effect to take hold.

And when it does, his eyes soften, and his mouth curls in a loving smile. ]

I love your laugh. [ A little huff of his own escapes his lips. ] I can think of no other sound more joyous and delightful in the world--in any world.

[Syrlya is casually downing his champagne as he watches Trahearne eat one of his chocolates. Well that's one less crop for him.

And then he stops, the glass touching his nose as Trahearne's expression shifts and he speaks. His... laugh?

He stares, unblinking at first, as his cheeks tinge gold.

Then he sets the empty flute down slowly, leaning forward and resting his arms on the table. His expression grows soft, his gaze wandering Trahearne's face, searching.]

I don't need a chocolate to tell you that. [His gaze locks with Trahearne's, staring intently.] The things I love about you are uncountable, but... I love the consideration and care you give something when you have dedicated to it. You are--earnest, in your pursuits, like they are the most important thing that exists. It is a good look on you.

[ Oh, Pale Tree, the way Syrlya looks at him--

Trahearne thinks, in the quiet moment after he speaks, that he will melt under his gaze. Something in his chest warms--a phantom sensation, surely, since that is not actually possible--and his head cants to the side. He meets Syrlya's eyes with equal affection, but isn't quite ready for what comes next.

His expression widens a touch, not so much out of surprise, but simply for how moved he is. His lips part as a flush settles on his cheeks, and it takes a moment before he smiles again. ]

I'm...touched, Syrlya. It means a lot to hear that from you. [ Genuinely. It's just hard to convey with words. He reaches over the table, palm up for him to take it, if he so wishes to. ] You have always had a keen intuition when it comes others. I do love how attentive and caring you are in that regard--you have a big heart, and that's something worth cherishing.

[Syrlya's hand slides over to rest over Trahearne's.

It isn't often he sees Trahearne blush, a more subtle tinge against his darker skin. He likes the sight of it a lot.

His gaze sits just a second too long in Trahearne's lips before he locks onto his eyes once more.] You always have room in it you know. The space you've carved within my heart is permanent and you may always have perch.

[ As Syrlya's hand comes over his, he squeezes. ]

As you do in mine. [ Though he is aware of the meaning, the weight behind his words. Syrlya spent a lifetime without him, after his death. The implication that he carried that hole in his heart with him in all that time pains him to think about. But they are here now, and he can do what he can to heal him.

Trahearne, on the other hand, is much the opposite--who wandered his life not really knowing what it is he needed until he met Syrlya.

Not once has his gaze left Syrlya's, piercing yellow on blocked briefly by a slow blink. ]

Sometimes, I wish I'd dreamed about you.

[ Life before meeting him feels like a haze, a colorless blur in hindsight. It's incredible how much power a single person can have on his life. ]

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