Rowan smiled mischievously as Cris's promise was immediately followed by a playful complaint. [Aww, Cris. If I didn't have ample proof that you enjoyed these nights as much as I do I would almost feel guilty enough to leave you be later. Perhaps that would be best? If I were to tuck you gently into bed with a chaste kiss upon your cheek? I don't want to make life hard for you.]
He didn't expect Cris to take him up on that offer, although if he did Rowan would happily to do exactly as he promised. And then, most likely, lock himself in the bathroom for the rest of the day and turn the shower on as cold as it could possibly get, hoping he didn't drown. Or dissolve. Or something equally horrifying.
The last few minutes at his co-workers' table was spent laughing, mostly, after denying he had any talent at being a sandwich specialist. Cris's surfer impression had him guffawing to himself even as they left for their own table, but the hand against his cheek and the soft kiss sobered him up quickly. It was, as all things were with Cris, perfection.
They took their original seats back and made easy, polite conversation as the rest of their fellow guests filtered back. The next few courses of the meal came fairly quickly; Rowan tried to eat lightly but it was difficult. There were greens in a slightly spicy vinaigrette, thinly sliced pieces of smoked duck with a light truffle sauce, pasta with vegetables and a cream sauce that made Rowan want to bent over and lick his plate. The entree itself was nothing short of miraculous. Rowan ordered a chateaubriand with a red wine reduction and some wild mushrooms in rice, which had such a delicious earthy taste they brought him straight back to the forests of Ireland.
Sadly the entree was over far too soon. The time for Rowan's presentation was nigh and the director was back on stage introducing him. He was doing so with a long list of credits while a screen descended behind him for the slides Rowan had prepared. Rowan's credentials were somewhat extensive given his apparent age and he knew a good number of the guests here would be very surprised when he took the stage shortly.
He hadn't bothered to try to look any older; Rowan was Rowan and he made no attempt to be someone he was not. To that end he was wearing his tux of course, with a vest and tie, but those were the only concession he'd made that evening. His hair was loose, cleaned, but not pulled back at all, its dramatic cut framing his face. His usual piercings were visible beneath his red hair, and he had not removed his nose piercing either. He had not worn his wrist bands since his cuffs were in the way but he had managed to find two black and silver rings which graced his fingers, one on each hand, large pieces of jewelry meant to draw attention.
As he was introduced Rowan stood, grabbed the cards with his talking points on them, and straightened his jacket. Bending down he placed his hand on Cris's shoulder and murmured, "Hold down the fort for me please, love. It won't be the world's longest speech. I promise."
With that he walked to the stairs that led up to the stage and jogged lightly up them, shaking the director's hand and thanking him for the introduction. Then he took his place at the podium and smiled out into the crowd. Locating the little remote that controlled the slide projector he beheld the crowd in front of him and took a moment to utter a happy little sigh. He did like the spotlights.
Glancing down he shuffled his cards and began by clicking the projector on. And that was where everything went to pieces.
Trick or Treat
Rowan pulled his little Prius up to the front of the Piazza and let the valet have the keys. Normally he'd have parked it himself but tonight they were running late. He blamed Cris. Well. Really, he ought to blame himself but it was easier to blame Cris, who, frankly, looked hot in a tux. He looked hot every other night too but the tux... Rowan was weak, what could he say. Yes, he'd kind of sort of, well, ravished his boyfriend before they left. To be fair, however, he was pretty sure he'd been ravished in return. So thoroughly that he'd forgotten his talking points for his speech and had had to turn around and go back to Liefde to get them.
He gave a quick tug on the sleeves of his tux and brushed his hands down the front. He'd dressed in his best for this occasion, Armani, a sleek number with a deep green vest and tie. The benefit was Halloween-themed, but it wasn't a costume party. It was a black tie occasion, at several hundred dollars a plate. Rowan, as the main speaker for the Children's Hospital, had not been required to pay for his seat or for Cris's. That had made him unhappy but he'd found other ways to donate for the cause.
As they made their way into the lobby of the Piazza Rowan slipped his arm around Cris's waist and bent close. "Thanks for coming with me," he said, smiling. The last few nights had been particularly enjoyable. He was still warm from celebrating Cris's birthday, their way, a few nights past.
"I'm really happy you're here," he said.
He'd told Cris before they'd come that he hadn't really talked about his private life with any of his co-workers. Rowan had mostly kept them in the dark, not for any particular reason other than that he didn't usually make free and open with his personal life. Therefore, he was pretty sure a great many of the people he knew would probably be surprised to discover his date was another man. He doubted anyone would particularly care. Well, they might care but it was only because he worked with a lot of women. And, well, they tended to think certain things about the one male pediatrician on staff. Like what a nice guy he was. A nice single guy. A nice, single, marriageable guy.
The grand ballroom was decorated in theme. Not traditional black and orange but green and purple. Spider webs, floating bats, all sorts of Halloween icons graced the space above the many tables around the large dance floor. The windows were covered with a black background that sparkled with a LED display of colored twinkling stars. The room itself was dimly lit. Upon each table was a small cauldron as a centerpiece, greenish mist spilling from each one to roll across the table onto the floor.
One of the hosts took their tickets and glanced at them. "Right this way please, sirs."
They were led down onto the floor and to one of the tables toward the front of the venue near the stage that had been set up. There was currently a band playing on it; later there would be a performance by the Children's Choir. And several speeches, as well as Rowan's presentation.
Around the edges of the large room were all kinds of traditional Halloween party games. The attendees had been encouraged to bring their children, and the kids were all dressed in costume. Anyone could play games but they were clearly meant to entertain the kids. There was a full staff assigned to childcare so the adults could enjoy the party and listen to the speeches while their kids had fun.
As they made their way to their table he did not drop his arm from around Cris's waist. He did want everyone to know exactly who he was here with. Rowan wished his seat hadn't been assigned, but that was part of the price he paid for... not paying a price. He was supposed to sit with some of the more high profile guests so that he could address their questions. Fortunately Lynn was there as well; Rowan would at least have some opportunity to enjoy himself with Cris before the night was over. Rowan fully intended to get his face painted before the night was out.
((ooc: This thread is open to anyone who wants to join; feel free to take turns RPing within your own conversations if you do. This is NOT a formal event thread. It will not count as a bonus thread and has no pre-arranged end date.))
Rowan Murphy
12 years ago
Christian Bern
12 years ago
Cris ate and spoke with the people at the table through the next few courses. For the most part, he remained quiet, not because he felt uncomfortable, but because listening instead of talking was more natural to him. He had always found it the more useful skill to have, even as a commander, and so he left the idle chit chat to others. The questions were, for the most part, still directed to the members of the hospital staff that were seated at the table so there was not much attention brought his way. He even asked one or two questions of his own.
The meal was excellent and he savored his portion as each was served to him. Sipping his fall wine, he would occasionally glance back at the table of Rowan's co-workers that they had promised to revisit. It was a bit disconcerting to find himself the object of attention. Yet each time he gazed in that direction one or several of the women at the table would be looking in his direction. Cris would have dismissed it as a mistake, assuming the focus was on Rowan, whom he was obviously sitting close to, but it was clear that it was not just his partner who had their interest. How did that happen? They did not seem to be very angry at him for stealing the hot redheaded doctor, at least no one had an aura that suggested they were going to find his car and slash his tires. (A good thing since they came in Rowan's vehicle.) Instead they seemed...interested. Cris sat up straighter and clutched his lover's hand a little tighter, finding that turn of events to be somewhat bewildering.
Soon their meal was at a pause and the director was announcing Rowan with a remarkable list of titles and achievements. He looked at his companion and raised his eyebrows, impressed but not surprised. It was interesting to him that Rowan had managed to do these things, the ones recognized tonight, in the short time that he had been using his current persona. That was talent even for one of their kind.
"Consider your fort well defended." He smiled up at Rowan and then added silently. [You better not take long. I have somewhere to be later tonight.]
Cris found himself watching Rowan head to the podium with a faint smile on his face and pride in his heart. He had long ago stopped noticing the difference in his lover's appearance as anything out of the ordinary. All the hoops, rings, bands and metal belonged to Rowan; they were part of how he chose to dress and Cris thought his redhead was undeniably sexy in all of it. He loved that Rowan chose to wear them, even here, instead of changing himself, as Cris often did, for the sake of appearance.
Crossing his hands comfortably in his lap, he settled himself back to listen, along with the rest of the crowd to Rowan's speech.
The meal was excellent and he savored his portion as each was served to him. Sipping his fall wine, he would occasionally glance back at the table of Rowan's co-workers that they had promised to revisit. It was a bit disconcerting to find himself the object of attention. Yet each time he gazed in that direction one or several of the women at the table would be looking in his direction. Cris would have dismissed it as a mistake, assuming the focus was on Rowan, whom he was obviously sitting close to, but it was clear that it was not just his partner who had their interest. How did that happen? They did not seem to be very angry at him for stealing the hot redheaded doctor, at least no one had an aura that suggested they were going to find his car and slash his tires. (A good thing since they came in Rowan's vehicle.) Instead they seemed...interested. Cris sat up straighter and clutched his lover's hand a little tighter, finding that turn of events to be somewhat bewildering.
Soon their meal was at a pause and the director was announcing Rowan with a remarkable list of titles and achievements. He looked at his companion and raised his eyebrows, impressed but not surprised. It was interesting to him that Rowan had managed to do these things, the ones recognized tonight, in the short time that he had been using his current persona. That was talent even for one of their kind.
"Consider your fort well defended." He smiled up at Rowan and then added silently. [You better not take long. I have somewhere to be later tonight.]
Cris found himself watching Rowan head to the podium with a faint smile on his face and pride in his heart. He had long ago stopped noticing the difference in his lover's appearance as anything out of the ordinary. All the hoops, rings, bands and metal belonged to Rowan; they were part of how he chose to dress and Cris thought his redhead was undeniably sexy in all of it. He loved that Rowan chose to wear them, even here, instead of changing himself, as Cris often did, for the sake of appearance.
Crossing his hands comfortably in his lap, he settled himself back to listen, along with the rest of the crowd to Rowan's speech.
Rowan Murphy
12 years ago
[Mmmm. Later tonight. Not too much later. They're serving dessert at the end of this shindig but I had something much more appealing in mind for afters.]
As he flipped the projector on Rowan did his best to tune out the very very present desire he felt at the forefront of his thoughts and emotions. Time to put on his game face.
That was sort of tough to do when the crowd suddenly gave an uncertain laugh. Rowan turned to see the screen overhead and stepped back in a double-take. "Oh, my."
Instead of the picture of the hospital he'd planned to open with, what he had was a rather cartoonish elephant in a witch's halloween costume.
Rowan raised his eyebrows and looked back at his audience. He focused on Lynn, whose eyes were wide as saucers. Her face was white. That sight alone almost made him giggle a little.
Rowan cleared his throat and tugged at his tie with his forefinger, looking somewhat nervous himself. Nonetheless he turned back to the mic and grinned.
"They say elephants never forget," he said, "which is probably a very good thing, because currently, in order for any child to be treated for cancer in this city, they've got to drive three hours to the nearest facility with the proper equipment or wait on a very long line of patients at our hospital."
Not his ideal opening but he managed. Lifting the remote again he pressed the button to switch slides. There was another collective chuckle from the crowd. Rowan winced, his expression somewhere between disbelief and "oh, shit." On the screen now was a trio of kittens dangling from a tree branch with similar expressions on their faces.
"You've got to be... ok."
Rowan shuffled his cards around and found one that fit. "There are three different types of cancer that most commonly affect children. Leukemia, lymphoma, and brain tumors."
He pointed to each kitten as he listed them. "Not a perfect metaphor," he said with a disarming grin, "but like these little critters here, any one of them can remain dormant or stable until, whoops! Something goes wrong and then they're in trouble. Prompt treatment and early diagnosis are key. In other words, we clearly need to call the fire department. But we don't have a phone."
Squeezing his eyes closed almost comically and turning away, Rowan pointed the remote again and hit the button. This time there was an 'awww' from the crowd, so he cautiously peeked out of one eye and looked at the screen to see a basket of puppies swaddled in halloween-patterned fleece, comfy and cozy. He huffed at the screen softly for a second, collecting his thoughts.
"Your donations tonight can help make the lives of children throughout Nachton much more comfortable, and much more hopeful. What we aim to do is develop and build our own oncology center for our very own children here, to diagnose and treat this disease early on."
Rowan was getting comfortable now with his material. He looked up at the screen and hit the button again. "Oooo-kay."
Tossing his index cards over his shoulder to land wherever they may, Rowan looked at the picture of a monkey on a bicycle. Followed by a squirrel carrying a banana three times its size. No worries.
Four baboons, three giraffes, a naked molerat, a platypus carrying a deck of cards, and a komodo dragon later, Rowan was really into it. He had his audience's attention now, as they eagerly awaited each new slide and how Rowan would miraculously manage to connect it to his speech. He didn't look at Cris, but he did glance at Lynn again and wouldn't have been surprised if she were crossing her fingers under the table.
The trauma lasted for about fifteen minutes; Rowan had been serious when he'd said it wouldn't be too long. Really the point was to provide some education about cancer, to explain what their goal was of building their own state of the art oncology facility, and elicit a favorable reaction from their audience. The only part left was his favorite.
"In conclusion, I've been informed that for every dollar you contribute, with your tickets tonight and with your generosity later on, an anonymous donor will match them equally, dollar for dollar. So please, open your hearts and think about giving a child the gift of hope as we go into this holiday season. Cheers."
He flipped the projector off, gave a wave, and descended the stairs once more to the sound of applause that was slightly more enthusiastic than he would normally have hoped for. It didn't hurt that his oh-so-supportive co-workers were whistling. It also didn't hurt that he was the anonymous donor he'd mentioned.
Huh. He should probably tell Lynn about that part. She was the one taking the donations later on, and this would be the first she'd heard about it. Rowan was smiling as he returned to his seat and the choir took the stage once more.
As he flipped the projector on Rowan did his best to tune out the very very present desire he felt at the forefront of his thoughts and emotions. Time to put on his game face.
That was sort of tough to do when the crowd suddenly gave an uncertain laugh. Rowan turned to see the screen overhead and stepped back in a double-take. "Oh, my."
Instead of the picture of the hospital he'd planned to open with, what he had was a rather cartoonish elephant in a witch's halloween costume.
Rowan raised his eyebrows and looked back at his audience. He focused on Lynn, whose eyes were wide as saucers. Her face was white. That sight alone almost made him giggle a little.
Rowan cleared his throat and tugged at his tie with his forefinger, looking somewhat nervous himself. Nonetheless he turned back to the mic and grinned.
"They say elephants never forget," he said, "which is probably a very good thing, because currently, in order for any child to be treated for cancer in this city, they've got to drive three hours to the nearest facility with the proper equipment or wait on a very long line of patients at our hospital."
Not his ideal opening but he managed. Lifting the remote again he pressed the button to switch slides. There was another collective chuckle from the crowd. Rowan winced, his expression somewhere between disbelief and "oh, shit." On the screen now was a trio of kittens dangling from a tree branch with similar expressions on their faces.
"You've got to be... ok."
Rowan shuffled his cards around and found one that fit. "There are three different types of cancer that most commonly affect children. Leukemia, lymphoma, and brain tumors."
He pointed to each kitten as he listed them. "Not a perfect metaphor," he said with a disarming grin, "but like these little critters here, any one of them can remain dormant or stable until, whoops! Something goes wrong and then they're in trouble. Prompt treatment and early diagnosis are key. In other words, we clearly need to call the fire department. But we don't have a phone."
Squeezing his eyes closed almost comically and turning away, Rowan pointed the remote again and hit the button. This time there was an 'awww' from the crowd, so he cautiously peeked out of one eye and looked at the screen to see a basket of puppies swaddled in halloween-patterned fleece, comfy and cozy. He huffed at the screen softly for a second, collecting his thoughts.
"Your donations tonight can help make the lives of children throughout Nachton much more comfortable, and much more hopeful. What we aim to do is develop and build our own oncology center for our very own children here, to diagnose and treat this disease early on."
Rowan was getting comfortable now with his material. He looked up at the screen and hit the button again. "Oooo-kay."
Tossing his index cards over his shoulder to land wherever they may, Rowan looked at the picture of a monkey on a bicycle. Followed by a squirrel carrying a banana three times its size. No worries.
Four baboons, three giraffes, a naked molerat, a platypus carrying a deck of cards, and a komodo dragon later, Rowan was really into it. He had his audience's attention now, as they eagerly awaited each new slide and how Rowan would miraculously manage to connect it to his speech. He didn't look at Cris, but he did glance at Lynn again and wouldn't have been surprised if she were crossing her fingers under the table.
The trauma lasted for about fifteen minutes; Rowan had been serious when he'd said it wouldn't be too long. Really the point was to provide some education about cancer, to explain what their goal was of building their own state of the art oncology facility, and elicit a favorable reaction from their audience. The only part left was his favorite.
"In conclusion, I've been informed that for every dollar you contribute, with your tickets tonight and with your generosity later on, an anonymous donor will match them equally, dollar for dollar. So please, open your hearts and think about giving a child the gift of hope as we go into this holiday season. Cheers."
He flipped the projector off, gave a wave, and descended the stairs once more to the sound of applause that was slightly more enthusiastic than he would normally have hoped for. It didn't hurt that his oh-so-supportive co-workers were whistling. It also didn't hurt that he was the anonymous donor he'd mentioned.
Huh. He should probably tell Lynn about that part. She was the one taking the donations later on, and this would be the first she'd heard about it. Rowan was smiling as he returned to his seat and the choir took the stage once more.
Christian Bern
12 years ago
Cris leaned forward in his seat and looked at the screen behind Rowan in disbelief. Surely his fellow staff members wouldn't sabotage his companion's efforts at such an important event. It meant a great deal to the entire hospital and he had not sensed any animosity toward Rowan from anyone he had met. Perhaps he should look again.
His first concern was Rowan. Even as his handsome redhead was sorting out what to say about an elephant in a witch outfit Cris was reading over his lover's aura. What he found there was a relief. For the most part his partner was amused, there were bright colours of enjoyment and even a little mischief.
...What was not there was surprise.
Seeing that Rowan was not upset, Cris turned his attention first to Lynn and then the other members of the hospital staff that most closely worked with Rowan. Looking at the woman at his table, he could tell that Lynn had no prior knowledge to this little change in plans. She looked, and her aura confirmed, like she was properly horrified. She was nervous but as Rowan continued to make do with the slides that he been given she seemed to slowly calm down and tinges of hope could be seen around her.
Looking back at the other table, Cris carefully inspected the auras of each of the people there. Most followed the same as everyone else in the crowd, surprise and amusement being foremost in their aura, followed by interest. One stood out as different. Becky, the nurse that Rowan seemed the closest to, looked mortified. Interesting, very interesting.
With the mystery all but solved, Cris went back to listening to Rowan's speech and watching the crowd's reaction. They were eagerly listening to his boyfriend with each new slide to see how he would manage to connect fuzzy kittens, sleeping puppies and other things to the topic of his speech. He listened with a slight smile on his face, amused and interested with all the rest. Cris loved seeing Rowan's charm and cleverness win over the crowd and he was more proud than ever when his partner was done.
Clapping with the rest, Cris restrained himself from whistling; though other forms of appreciation did come to his mind, none of them very appropriate in public. He waited patiently for Rowan to return to him and then slipped his hand into Rowan's once his companion had returned to his seat.
"Masterfully done, Love." Cris smiled and gave his partner a chaste kiss on the cheek in congratulations. [Especially the part where you had them all convinced that you knew nothing of this little 'prank'.] He squeezed Rowan's hand gently under the table. It was brilliant really. People loved a challenge and routing for the underdog. The entire crowd had been leaning forward, waiting for the next slide all the way through to the end. It was the most engaged he had ever seen a group be for a speech. For even the best speakers there tended to be a least a few people that were not very interested but here even the ones who did not know much about cancer or care much for philanthropy wanted to see what Rowan would say next. His partner also spoke in terms that everyone could understand without making it sound like he had written his speech for the children who were playing behind them.
[Perhaps I should try that tactic for my next staff meeting. However, I doubt I would receive the same reaction.] Most likely most of the people on his team would be distracted by wondering which head was going to roll for the mix up. He was also not one to enjoy public speaking so he tended to hand out the facts as clearly and quickly as possible, field any questions people might have, and curtail any long winded grandstanding by those who thought it might help them appear more invested in their job if they gave the most suggestions or asked the most questions. From what he had understood from listening to his employees talk (when they weren't aware of his presence) the security meetings might not be the most entertaining way to spend an hour or two but most of his staff were happy that they were focused and quick. His own people were occasionally present for some of the other board meetings and other functions where a security presence was requested and there were horror stories about some of them that seemed to go on forever. No amount of company food could compensate for the conference that would never end.
"I think your speech inspired me toward generosity." Cris smiled up at Rowan. [I wonder if your anonymous donor can handle a very large donation from a long lived, well payed workaholic who has had very little to spend his money on until recently.] He could easily buy the hospital a new oncology ward, equipment and all; no doubt Rowan could as well despite being less of a recluse. Knowing the hospital had at least one generous vampire on staff was enough to give him a good guess for who this anonymous donor might be.
His own needs over the years had been very simple and his life had been woefully lacking in people to spend his money on. Cris still watched after his family but the descendants had grown very numerous and far flung. This past century, with new image capturing technology, he had to be more careful than he had in the past. It would not be good to be captured in the family photos unchanged through several decades worth of events.
His first concern was Rowan. Even as his handsome redhead was sorting out what to say about an elephant in a witch outfit Cris was reading over his lover's aura. What he found there was a relief. For the most part his partner was amused, there were bright colours of enjoyment and even a little mischief.
...What was not there was surprise.
Seeing that Rowan was not upset, Cris turned his attention first to Lynn and then the other members of the hospital staff that most closely worked with Rowan. Looking at the woman at his table, he could tell that Lynn had no prior knowledge to this little change in plans. She looked, and her aura confirmed, like she was properly horrified. She was nervous but as Rowan continued to make do with the slides that he been given she seemed to slowly calm down and tinges of hope could be seen around her.
Looking back at the other table, Cris carefully inspected the auras of each of the people there. Most followed the same as everyone else in the crowd, surprise and amusement being foremost in their aura, followed by interest. One stood out as different. Becky, the nurse that Rowan seemed the closest to, looked mortified. Interesting, very interesting.
With the mystery all but solved, Cris went back to listening to Rowan's speech and watching the crowd's reaction. They were eagerly listening to his boyfriend with each new slide to see how he would manage to connect fuzzy kittens, sleeping puppies and other things to the topic of his speech. He listened with a slight smile on his face, amused and interested with all the rest. Cris loved seeing Rowan's charm and cleverness win over the crowd and he was more proud than ever when his partner was done.
Clapping with the rest, Cris restrained himself from whistling; though other forms of appreciation did come to his mind, none of them very appropriate in public. He waited patiently for Rowan to return to him and then slipped his hand into Rowan's once his companion had returned to his seat.
"Masterfully done, Love." Cris smiled and gave his partner a chaste kiss on the cheek in congratulations. [Especially the part where you had them all convinced that you knew nothing of this little 'prank'.] He squeezed Rowan's hand gently under the table. It was brilliant really. People loved a challenge and routing for the underdog. The entire crowd had been leaning forward, waiting for the next slide all the way through to the end. It was the most engaged he had ever seen a group be for a speech. For even the best speakers there tended to be a least a few people that were not very interested but here even the ones who did not know much about cancer or care much for philanthropy wanted to see what Rowan would say next. His partner also spoke in terms that everyone could understand without making it sound like he had written his speech for the children who were playing behind them.
[Perhaps I should try that tactic for my next staff meeting. However, I doubt I would receive the same reaction.] Most likely most of the people on his team would be distracted by wondering which head was going to roll for the mix up. He was also not one to enjoy public speaking so he tended to hand out the facts as clearly and quickly as possible, field any questions people might have, and curtail any long winded grandstanding by those who thought it might help them appear more invested in their job if they gave the most suggestions or asked the most questions. From what he had understood from listening to his employees talk (when they weren't aware of his presence) the security meetings might not be the most entertaining way to spend an hour or two but most of his staff were happy that they were focused and quick. His own people were occasionally present for some of the other board meetings and other functions where a security presence was requested and there were horror stories about some of them that seemed to go on forever. No amount of company food could compensate for the conference that would never end.
"I think your speech inspired me toward generosity." Cris smiled up at Rowan. [I wonder if your anonymous donor can handle a very large donation from a long lived, well payed workaholic who has had very little to spend his money on until recently.] He could easily buy the hospital a new oncology ward, equipment and all; no doubt Rowan could as well despite being less of a recluse. Knowing the hospital had at least one generous vampire on staff was enough to give him a good guess for who this anonymous donor might be.
His own needs over the years had been very simple and his life had been woefully lacking in people to spend his money on. Cris still watched after his family but the descendants had grown very numerous and far flung. This past century, with new image capturing technology, he had to be more careful than he had in the past. It would not be good to be captured in the family photos unchanged through several decades worth of events.
Rowan Murphy
12 years ago
Rowan was glad to see Cris had figured out his game; he hadn't expected his partner to be taken in by it for long if at all. He accepted the sweet little kiss on the cheek as he sat back down, and squeezed Cris's hand when it slipped into his. Lynn looked like she was about to burst with questions and comments but Rowan couldn't really explain fully to her here. She'd just have to wait. The other guests at the table with him had comments of their own but they all seemed favorably inclined. There were also a number of people from other tables waiting to talk to him, as well as Lynn, to make contributions of their own.
[I didn't, not exactly,] Rowan sent mischievously to Cris in self-defense. [I just knew the slides weren't going to be what I had planned. Becky put them together.]
He risked at glance at Becky, but he couldn't see her through the sudden influx of guests. Rowan wondered what she'd thought about this... he hadn't told her everything, either.
He had a role to play still, however, so out loud, he smiled somewhat sheepishly, looked relieved, and said to Cris, "I don't know what happened to my presentation. I suppose it's a night of tricks."
The treats would hopefully come later. Or now, really, since it seemed as though the contributions were going to start flowing much earlier than anticipated. Rowan didn't mind influencing people this way. There had been no glamour involved, no artifice. Just sheer force of personality.
Cris's suggestion that he try the same thing made Rowan grin. [I'll be happy to make you a nice slideshow,] he sent. [Something with embarrassing baby pictures.]
Naturally, they wouldn't be Cris, but Rowan had faith in his own ability to come up with some adorable look-alikes. He'd love to be a fly on the wall during that meeting, although Cris claimed to lack Rowan's flair for public speaking. He thought Cris would manage just fine although if he didn't there was something completely adorable about picturing a flustered Christian.
In spite of the people who came over to their table, Rowan's attention was always on Cris, so when his partner sent to him once more Rowan looked at his lover, noted that gorgeous smile, and returned it as he tightened his grip on Cris's hand.
He hadn't brought Cris here to solicit funds from him or make him feel obligated to contribute, but Rowan knew Cris well enough to understand that was not the reason for his offer. If Cris had his heart set on a cause Rowan would want to contribute to it, as well, so he wouldn't begrudge his lover the opportunity to help him achieve his goals.
[I have it on good authority this donor would say, 'bring it on,'] Rowan sent back, along with a wave of love and adoration. [I'm sure he'll do his utmost to find some way to express his gratitude and appreciation... privately.]
Rowan fully intended to match every contribution made tonight. He had planned, initially, to do that as well as make up the difference in funding the new ward in its entirety, but he heard some of the numbers being discussed with Lynn and he knew it wouldn't be necessary - the ward would be paid for after tonight, which made him happy. His bank account would be short by several million, but that was fine by him. Twelve hundred years was a long time to build up a savings, and Rowan had always been money-savvy. That was only the tip of a very large iceberg.
As people began to settle down once more, the choir finished singing and the band struck up another tune in their place. The crowd at their table thinned out and Rowan saw, as folks dispersed back to their own tables or the dance floor, a sight that did not bode well for him.
Becky was on her way toward them, towing a blushing Susan by the hand. Susan was making some sort of embarrassed protest but Becky was ignoring her, her eyes like daggers that Rowan felt keenly.
"Uh oh," he muttered to Cris. "You might need to protect me from bodily harm after all."
The two women arrived at their table and Becky smiled sweetly at them both. "I don't suppose you would care to dance with us?" she offered bluntly. "If you don't mind, that is." Her tone softened as she addressed the last bit toward Cris, almost apologetically. "I promise - just one and then you can have him back."
Her eyes flickered back to Rowan and he could almost hear the unspoken 'probably in several pieces,' at the end of it. Still, he could hardly refuse, even though Lynn also spoke up.
"I'd love to steal him off for a number as well, if you don't mind Christian," she said.
"As would I," said Lily Stafford, surprisingly. She waved her hand though. "A bit later, perhaps. It seems your ticket is quite full." Her eyes were amused and Rowan wondered if she knew something he didn't.
Standing, Rowan released Cris's hand and bent to kiss his partner on the cheek. Then he turned to Becky and said, "How could I refuse?"
He would admit he might possibly owe her a tiny apology.
[I didn't, not exactly,] Rowan sent mischievously to Cris in self-defense. [I just knew the slides weren't going to be what I had planned. Becky put them together.]
He risked at glance at Becky, but he couldn't see her through the sudden influx of guests. Rowan wondered what she'd thought about this... he hadn't told her everything, either.
He had a role to play still, however, so out loud, he smiled somewhat sheepishly, looked relieved, and said to Cris, "I don't know what happened to my presentation. I suppose it's a night of tricks."
The treats would hopefully come later. Or now, really, since it seemed as though the contributions were going to start flowing much earlier than anticipated. Rowan didn't mind influencing people this way. There had been no glamour involved, no artifice. Just sheer force of personality.
Cris's suggestion that he try the same thing made Rowan grin. [I'll be happy to make you a nice slideshow,] he sent. [Something with embarrassing baby pictures.]
Naturally, they wouldn't be Cris, but Rowan had faith in his own ability to come up with some adorable look-alikes. He'd love to be a fly on the wall during that meeting, although Cris claimed to lack Rowan's flair for public speaking. He thought Cris would manage just fine although if he didn't there was something completely adorable about picturing a flustered Christian.
In spite of the people who came over to their table, Rowan's attention was always on Cris, so when his partner sent to him once more Rowan looked at his lover, noted that gorgeous smile, and returned it as he tightened his grip on Cris's hand.
He hadn't brought Cris here to solicit funds from him or make him feel obligated to contribute, but Rowan knew Cris well enough to understand that was not the reason for his offer. If Cris had his heart set on a cause Rowan would want to contribute to it, as well, so he wouldn't begrudge his lover the opportunity to help him achieve his goals.
[I have it on good authority this donor would say, 'bring it on,'] Rowan sent back, along with a wave of love and adoration. [I'm sure he'll do his utmost to find some way to express his gratitude and appreciation... privately.]
Rowan fully intended to match every contribution made tonight. He had planned, initially, to do that as well as make up the difference in funding the new ward in its entirety, but he heard some of the numbers being discussed with Lynn and he knew it wouldn't be necessary - the ward would be paid for after tonight, which made him happy. His bank account would be short by several million, but that was fine by him. Twelve hundred years was a long time to build up a savings, and Rowan had always been money-savvy. That was only the tip of a very large iceberg.
As people began to settle down once more, the choir finished singing and the band struck up another tune in their place. The crowd at their table thinned out and Rowan saw, as folks dispersed back to their own tables or the dance floor, a sight that did not bode well for him.
Becky was on her way toward them, towing a blushing Susan by the hand. Susan was making some sort of embarrassed protest but Becky was ignoring her, her eyes like daggers that Rowan felt keenly.
"Uh oh," he muttered to Cris. "You might need to protect me from bodily harm after all."
The two women arrived at their table and Becky smiled sweetly at them both. "I don't suppose you would care to dance with us?" she offered bluntly. "If you don't mind, that is." Her tone softened as she addressed the last bit toward Cris, almost apologetically. "I promise - just one and then you can have him back."
Her eyes flickered back to Rowan and he could almost hear the unspoken 'probably in several pieces,' at the end of it. Still, he could hardly refuse, even though Lynn also spoke up.
"I'd love to steal him off for a number as well, if you don't mind Christian," she said.
"As would I," said Lily Stafford, surprisingly. She waved her hand though. "A bit later, perhaps. It seems your ticket is quite full." Her eyes were amused and Rowan wondered if she knew something he didn't.
Standing, Rowan released Cris's hand and bent to kiss his partner on the cheek. Then he turned to Becky and said, "How could I refuse?"
He would admit he might possibly owe her a tiny apology.
Christian Bern
12 years ago
Cris considered Rowan's answer about the donation. He squeezed his lover's hand in response and wondered if they should just tell everyone else they were free to leave. The donations were already covered. The hospital could always use more money but the other idea had the large personal advantage of allowing the two of them to escape upstairs and check out the amenities of the room Rowan had rented.
It seemed that such an escape might actually be necessary; he noticed Becky weaving through the crowd with another woman in tow behind her. Rowan had obviously seen the same thing about the same time because he mentioned that he might need protecting.
"I believe you earned whatever wrath she is likely to unleash upon you but if she starts doing any serious damage then I promise to rescue you."
He smiled slightly as they were asked to dance and it was obvious that his partner was about to get the lecture of his life from the nurse. Cris shook his head, no, he did not mind and then stood and took Susan's hand. He leaned down to Becky and whispered in her ear. "Don't punish him too severely. I would hate to see him cry right here in front of everyone." He grinned at Rowan, blowing him a kiss in parting, and then led Susan toward the dance floor.
Focusing on Susan, Cris kept an eye out on Rowan and Becky. He quickly found out that his partner was not familiar with the movement of the waltz but the basic step was easy enough to teach.
To a blushing Susan, he explained her part. "Step back with your right foot. Then slide back and to the side all in one movement with the left. Now bring your right foot next to it." He moved to her side to illustrate to her the woman's part. "Then forward with the left foot. Correct. And then up and to the side with the right, now close with the left. See, simple." They went through it side by side a few more times before he took up his position in front of her and they continued on with the rest of the dance in the correct positions. After a little bauble here and there, Susan got into the rhythm of it.
"Try to look at me and not your feet." Cris smiled at her. She looked up at him and blushed again. Her eyes darted away amongst the crowd, landed on something and then turned back to him.
"So which came first, do you think? The chicken or the egg?" Raising his eyebrows, Cris searched across the room where she had been looking in the hopes of seeing where that question had come from. It was not hard to find. There was an older little boy, perhaps four, dressed as a chicken and a little girl that could not be more than year old crawling around nearby in a soft felted egg costume. Parents with a sense of humor, apparently.
"Well, obviously the chicken came first." Cris smiled at his dance partner. "Clearly he is older."
"You make a good point." She laughed and searched for something else to say. "So, what are you reading now?....a book, I mean." Cris had been reading Becky and his boyfriend's auras but he could hardly explain that to Susan so it was perhaps a good thing she clarified.
"I am reading the latest book in the series, A Song of Ice and Fire..." He stopped when Susan began to nod her head vigorously.
"I LOVE that series!" All nervousness was forgotten as they began to discuss the different characters and houses and put forth their various theories of how the events would turn out. Soon the dance was over and they were still discussing whether or not Dany would prevail in her quest to take back rulership of the seven kingdoms.
"I think she will end of with Jon Snow." Susan was telling him as they drew closer to the other two.
"I am not so certain of that. They are of an age and I find myself pulling for Jon but..." He smiled and shrugged. "You know how it is with Martin's characters...."
"Never get too attached!" Susan said before he could start the common admonishment.
"May I have him back now?" He asked Becky. Turning to Susan, Cris raised her hand upward and bowed over it. "Thank you, My Lady. I very much enjoyed our dance."
It seemed that such an escape might actually be necessary; he noticed Becky weaving through the crowd with another woman in tow behind her. Rowan had obviously seen the same thing about the same time because he mentioned that he might need protecting.
"I believe you earned whatever wrath she is likely to unleash upon you but if she starts doing any serious damage then I promise to rescue you."
He smiled slightly as they were asked to dance and it was obvious that his partner was about to get the lecture of his life from the nurse. Cris shook his head, no, he did not mind and then stood and took Susan's hand. He leaned down to Becky and whispered in her ear. "Don't punish him too severely. I would hate to see him cry right here in front of everyone." He grinned at Rowan, blowing him a kiss in parting, and then led Susan toward the dance floor.
Focusing on Susan, Cris kept an eye out on Rowan and Becky. He quickly found out that his partner was not familiar with the movement of the waltz but the basic step was easy enough to teach.
To a blushing Susan, he explained her part. "Step back with your right foot. Then slide back and to the side all in one movement with the left. Now bring your right foot next to it." He moved to her side to illustrate to her the woman's part. "Then forward with the left foot. Correct. And then up and to the side with the right, now close with the left. See, simple." They went through it side by side a few more times before he took up his position in front of her and they continued on with the rest of the dance in the correct positions. After a little bauble here and there, Susan got into the rhythm of it.
"Try to look at me and not your feet." Cris smiled at her. She looked up at him and blushed again. Her eyes darted away amongst the crowd, landed on something and then turned back to him.
"So which came first, do you think? The chicken or the egg?" Raising his eyebrows, Cris searched across the room where she had been looking in the hopes of seeing where that question had come from. It was not hard to find. There was an older little boy, perhaps four, dressed as a chicken and a little girl that could not be more than year old crawling around nearby in a soft felted egg costume. Parents with a sense of humor, apparently.
"Well, obviously the chicken came first." Cris smiled at his dance partner. "Clearly he is older."
"You make a good point." She laughed and searched for something else to say. "So, what are you reading now?....a book, I mean." Cris had been reading Becky and his boyfriend's auras but he could hardly explain that to Susan so it was perhaps a good thing she clarified.
"I am reading the latest book in the series, A Song of Ice and Fire..." He stopped when Susan began to nod her head vigorously.
"I LOVE that series!" All nervousness was forgotten as they began to discuss the different characters and houses and put forth their various theories of how the events would turn out. Soon the dance was over and they were still discussing whether or not Dany would prevail in her quest to take back rulership of the seven kingdoms.
"I think she will end of with Jon Snow." Susan was telling him as they drew closer to the other two.
"I am not so certain of that. They are of an age and I find myself pulling for Jon but..." He smiled and shrugged. "You know how it is with Martin's characters...."
"Never get too attached!" Susan said before he could start the common admonishment.
"May I have him back now?" He asked Becky. Turning to Susan, Cris raised her hand upward and bowed over it. "Thank you, My Lady. I very much enjoyed our dance."
Rowan Murphy
12 years ago
Rowan narrowed his eyes at Cris's back as his partner turned away with a blown kiss and headed to the dance floor with a blushing Susan, who looked both pleased and slightly nervous. Rowan had never seen the little Asian nurse look comfortable anywhere but the ER. He didn't have any time to speculate however, as Becky tucked her hand into his and dragged him onto the dance floor herself.
Rowan put his arm around Becky and took her hand in his. As he stepped forward it was immediately clear that Becky didn't waltz. She had his hand in an iron grip and stepped froward at the same time as he, and they bumped chests like umpires at a baseball game.
He had to laugh, and he knew that was awful of him because it was bound to make Becky angrier. Only, she wasn't exactly angry at him. He knew her better than that. She was worried, worried that what she'd done might have jeopardized this entire thing, a little annoyed with him, sure, but not deep down.
Righting them both Rowan grinned at Becky, who was frowning up at him. "Just follow me," he said. "It's simple. A three-count."
Becky was a fast learner; she was able to follow Rowan as they did a simple box-step. Glancing over Becky's shoulder Rowan saw Cris giving Susan a little waltz lesson and smiled. Turning his attention back to Becky he opened his mouth to apologize and didn't get a single word out before she'd let go of his hand and shoved her finger up against his mouth.
"Not a word," she growled softly at him so as not to be heard by the people around them. "I refuse to let you charm me out of my belligerent rage."
Rowan, lips squished against Becky's finger, simply raised his eyebrows at her and waited.
"Why didn't you tell me what you were planning? Do you have any idea what I felt like when I saw those slides come up during your presentation?"
He tried to respond but all that came out was a mumble against the stern finger. Becky continued.
"This job might be fun and games for you but I need it to live," she hissed. "I don't have five million degrees and a whiz-kid reputation to get me hired anywhere else. I have a son to take care of."
Ouch. Now that was slightly unfair, and somewhat painful. Rowan loved Becky, he wouldn't do anything to endanger her job.
"If they find out who put those slides in there... Rowan..."
Becky rarely used his given name; usually she thrived on formality. Rowan's brows fell and he sighed against her finger. When she pulled it away and glared at him, he saw that she was truly upset. Frustrated, worried. He took her hand again and spun her around, facing away from the crowd.
"I'm sorry," he said almost contritely. "I should have told you what I was up to but then you might not have been able to do it just right. I had to be surprised for it to work."
"Bullshit," she whispered back. "You could have written a perfectly good speech and the donations would have come."
"Look at them," Rowan said, jerking his head to the side where two of Lynn's assistants were still taking pledges. "They loved it. It was a story in and of itself."
Becky glanced at the table. "I will admit that you might have garnered a little more favor your way." Then she intentionally slammed her foot down on his with another growl. "Next time tell me what you're planning and make me an equal partner."
Rowan stumbled slightly before catching himself with a chuckle. "Okay, okay. But you're in for it."
"Okay," she conceded, "I do have a little anxiety over the fact that I don't apparently know all of your plots. But I have faith in you. You're one of the good guys right?"
"Of course I am," Rowan said, wounded. "Becky, I wouldn't jeopardize your job. Or anyone else's. I knew what I was doing."
"Well now I want to know what you're doing too."
"Deal."
It was only fair. Besides every good super hero had a sidekick. If Becky was willing to be his partner in crime then Rowan could use his powers for even better good. At least she calmed down some, and seemed less inclined to kick his ass. Not that she could have, but Rowan would have let her. A little.
He looked over at Cris again and was pleasantly surprised to see him engaged in what looked like a very animated conversation with the normally shy, quiet Susan. Rowan didn't consider himself the jealous type but he was, just then. He wanted to be in Susan's place, not standing here being harangued by Becky... much as she deserved to do so.
She seemed to be done for the moment however. He looked back at her to find her regarding him with something close to sympathy. "Is he why you're so private about your personal life?" She asked.
Rowan considered that for a few moments. "Not really," he finally said. "I'd probably be the same with anyone."
"You know you're breaking more than a few hearts," Becky admonished him.
"Nah. I've never encouraged anyone."
"You're an equal opportunity encourager, that's all."
Rowan considered that. "Okay, you might have a point. Do you think anyone will be mad at me? I don't want it to be uncomfortable for Cris."
Becky finally sighed and laughed. "No. But you're not the cute, available, handsome single doctor anymore. Jerk."
"You didn't like me anyway."
Becky laughed again. "I know better. Besides, look at them... do they look like a crowd that's getting ready to make things uncomfortable for your boyfriend?"
They both looked at their co-workers. They were quite clearly discussing Susan's dancing, or her partner, but it was with smiles and laughter. A lot of that was also directed at Rowan and Becky, who rumor had had it were secretly dating. Take that, rumor.
"As long as no one says anything... rude... about him."
Becky reached up and gave Rowan a little shove. "Wow, we've finally found something that can un-child-ify you. You love him, huh?"
"Something like that," Rowan said as he and Becky drew close to the other couple. He raised his voice and took on a mournful tone. "Even though he abandoned me to fate in my hour of direst need."
Susan was giving Cris a cute, playful little curtsy and thanking him for the dance, heading back to their table with another blush. "God yes, please take him back!" Rowan said, beaming at Cris. He gave Becky a little hug, whispered a thanks to her, and then released her.
Turning to Cris he spread his arms as if to sweep his partner off his feet, and then suddenly a different person entirely was there, taking hold of his hand and spinning him away.
"Excuse me," Lynn said. "I'm so sorry, Christian. I just really need to borrow Dr Murphy for a few seconds."
Rowan uttered a strangled little moan of anguish. "Cris, meet Becky. Again. She has a really good right hook!" he said hurriedly as he was drawn away for yet another round of questioning. Never a dull moment at the benefit, apparently.
Rowan put his arm around Becky and took her hand in his. As he stepped forward it was immediately clear that Becky didn't waltz. She had his hand in an iron grip and stepped froward at the same time as he, and they bumped chests like umpires at a baseball game.
He had to laugh, and he knew that was awful of him because it was bound to make Becky angrier. Only, she wasn't exactly angry at him. He knew her better than that. She was worried, worried that what she'd done might have jeopardized this entire thing, a little annoyed with him, sure, but not deep down.
Righting them both Rowan grinned at Becky, who was frowning up at him. "Just follow me," he said. "It's simple. A three-count."
Becky was a fast learner; she was able to follow Rowan as they did a simple box-step. Glancing over Becky's shoulder Rowan saw Cris giving Susan a little waltz lesson and smiled. Turning his attention back to Becky he opened his mouth to apologize and didn't get a single word out before she'd let go of his hand and shoved her finger up against his mouth.
"Not a word," she growled softly at him so as not to be heard by the people around them. "I refuse to let you charm me out of my belligerent rage."
Rowan, lips squished against Becky's finger, simply raised his eyebrows at her and waited.
"Why didn't you tell me what you were planning? Do you have any idea what I felt like when I saw those slides come up during your presentation?"
He tried to respond but all that came out was a mumble against the stern finger. Becky continued.
"This job might be fun and games for you but I need it to live," she hissed. "I don't have five million degrees and a whiz-kid reputation to get me hired anywhere else. I have a son to take care of."
Ouch. Now that was slightly unfair, and somewhat painful. Rowan loved Becky, he wouldn't do anything to endanger her job.
"If they find out who put those slides in there... Rowan..."
Becky rarely used his given name; usually she thrived on formality. Rowan's brows fell and he sighed against her finger. When she pulled it away and glared at him, he saw that she was truly upset. Frustrated, worried. He took her hand again and spun her around, facing away from the crowd.
"I'm sorry," he said almost contritely. "I should have told you what I was up to but then you might not have been able to do it just right. I had to be surprised for it to work."
"Bullshit," she whispered back. "You could have written a perfectly good speech and the donations would have come."
"Look at them," Rowan said, jerking his head to the side where two of Lynn's assistants were still taking pledges. "They loved it. It was a story in and of itself."
Becky glanced at the table. "I will admit that you might have garnered a little more favor your way." Then she intentionally slammed her foot down on his with another growl. "Next time tell me what you're planning and make me an equal partner."
Rowan stumbled slightly before catching himself with a chuckle. "Okay, okay. But you're in for it."
"Okay," she conceded, "I do have a little anxiety over the fact that I don't apparently know all of your plots. But I have faith in you. You're one of the good guys right?"
"Of course I am," Rowan said, wounded. "Becky, I wouldn't jeopardize your job. Or anyone else's. I knew what I was doing."
"Well now I want to know what you're doing too."
"Deal."
It was only fair. Besides every good super hero had a sidekick. If Becky was willing to be his partner in crime then Rowan could use his powers for even better good. At least she calmed down some, and seemed less inclined to kick his ass. Not that she could have, but Rowan would have let her. A little.
He looked over at Cris again and was pleasantly surprised to see him engaged in what looked like a very animated conversation with the normally shy, quiet Susan. Rowan didn't consider himself the jealous type but he was, just then. He wanted to be in Susan's place, not standing here being harangued by Becky... much as she deserved to do so.
She seemed to be done for the moment however. He looked back at her to find her regarding him with something close to sympathy. "Is he why you're so private about your personal life?" She asked.
Rowan considered that for a few moments. "Not really," he finally said. "I'd probably be the same with anyone."
"You know you're breaking more than a few hearts," Becky admonished him.
"Nah. I've never encouraged anyone."
"You're an equal opportunity encourager, that's all."
Rowan considered that. "Okay, you might have a point. Do you think anyone will be mad at me? I don't want it to be uncomfortable for Cris."
Becky finally sighed and laughed. "No. But you're not the cute, available, handsome single doctor anymore. Jerk."
"You didn't like me anyway."
Becky laughed again. "I know better. Besides, look at them... do they look like a crowd that's getting ready to make things uncomfortable for your boyfriend?"
They both looked at their co-workers. They were quite clearly discussing Susan's dancing, or her partner, but it was with smiles and laughter. A lot of that was also directed at Rowan and Becky, who rumor had had it were secretly dating. Take that, rumor.
"As long as no one says anything... rude... about him."
Becky reached up and gave Rowan a little shove. "Wow, we've finally found something that can un-child-ify you. You love him, huh?"
"Something like that," Rowan said as he and Becky drew close to the other couple. He raised his voice and took on a mournful tone. "Even though he abandoned me to fate in my hour of direst need."
Susan was giving Cris a cute, playful little curtsy and thanking him for the dance, heading back to their table with another blush. "God yes, please take him back!" Rowan said, beaming at Cris. He gave Becky a little hug, whispered a thanks to her, and then released her.
Turning to Cris he spread his arms as if to sweep his partner off his feet, and then suddenly a different person entirely was there, taking hold of his hand and spinning him away.
"Excuse me," Lynn said. "I'm so sorry, Christian. I just really need to borrow Dr Murphy for a few seconds."
Rowan uttered a strangled little moan of anguish. "Cris, meet Becky. Again. She has a really good right hook!" he said hurriedly as he was drawn away for yet another round of questioning. Never a dull moment at the benefit, apparently.
Christian Bern
12 years ago
Cris felt bad for Rowan as he half listened to the conversation between Becky and his boyfriend while also talking to Susan. He knew that his partner would never knowingly endanger anyone's job and surely Becky should know that from working with Rowan for as long as she had. He could be impulsive perhaps even mischievous but Rowan was not at all self-centered; if there had been trouble over this little change in the presentation then Rowan would have taken the full blame for it. Cris knew that with as much certainty as he knew his own name. He doubted that Becky would have been in any trouble at all if Rowan explained to the powers that be that she had no real knowledge of what he was going to use the photos for.
Rowan looked properly sheepish when she mentioned raising her son as a single mother. Low blow...true perhaps but definitely a hard punch to the gut for a guy who loved children as much as Rowan did, and who respected Becky as well.
Cris was looking forward to being able to dance with his partner, hoping to be able to hug him close and speak kind and loving words to ease any remaining uncomfortable guilty feelings that Rowan might still be harboring at the end of his talk with Becky.
"I did not abandon you to fate." He argued with Rowan. "I abandoned you to Becky. Who, you have claimed, repeatedly is a nice, caring and wonderful woman. Are you retracting those words of praise?" Cris raised his eyebrows and looked from Rowan to Becky and then back again. "She did step on your feet." He narrowed his eyes at the brunette and spoke in a menacing whisper. "Do not think I missed that." Turning back to Rowan, he finished what he was saying. "But otherwise you were unharmed. Shall I go fetch a sword? I could challenge her to a duel for your honor."
Instead of getting his lover back as he intended, Cris received a different partner as Lynn chose to dance with Rowan. [My, aren't we the popular one tonight?] he sent to his redhead, glancing at him one last time before turning to Becky.
"A pleasure to meet you again. Please disregard any past mention of dueling. I promise I rarely stab people I have only just met." Obviously he could not say that he never stabbed strangers. While it was a rare occurrence in his current job, it still happened from time to time. As a mercenary he had stabbed more people than he could remember.
A faster song was played this time around. They could basically freestyle their dance moves and hope not to look like a complete idiot. Cris figured he was not doing the butter churn maneuver like the fellow nearest him or the really bad running man like a guy further away so he was faring better than some.
"You have really nice eyes." Becky told him bluntly, making Cris jerk the subjects of conversation back in her direction. "They seem honest."
"Thank you" He smiled at her and then glanced back toward Rowan and Lynn once more. She did not seem to be angry with him so, after a quick check on both of their auras, he turned his attention back to his dance partner.
"Do you love him?" She asked with yet more candor.
"Yes" Cris stated the simple unadorned truth while looking at her directly lest there be any doubt that he truly meant what he said.
"Good." Becky smiled at him but still looked like she was considering grilling him some more, just in case. "We all love Dr. Murphy. We wouldn't want to see him hurt." Normally he might wonder who the 'we' were and wonder whether Becky was hiding a crush on Rowan behind the facade of coworkers but it seemed to him that many of his boyfriend's fellow staff loved him. Becky was speaking the truth when she spoke for the others.
Smiling softly, Cris said. "Trust me, I never want to see him hurt much less be the cause of it."
"Good enough!" She smiled at him. "Now dip!"
He found his arms suddenly full of a laughing young woman. Cris was not sure that the requested action entirely went to the music but he was willing to play along. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he took a dramatic wide legged stance and then leaned her back in a deep dip. He paused for effect, made less effective by the giggles coming from his dance partner, before bringing her back up and giving her a mock smoldering stare and somber face, made longer and more over the top by the slightly sucked in cheeks and pursed lips. This caused a shocked snort and louder laughter.
They proceeded into a informal tango at twice its normal speed until they were once more next to Lynn and Rowan. Cris and Becky finished the dance with another dramatic dip, complete with giggles and mock serious faces from both of them.
Rowan looked properly sheepish when she mentioned raising her son as a single mother. Low blow...true perhaps but definitely a hard punch to the gut for a guy who loved children as much as Rowan did, and who respected Becky as well.
Cris was looking forward to being able to dance with his partner, hoping to be able to hug him close and speak kind and loving words to ease any remaining uncomfortable guilty feelings that Rowan might still be harboring at the end of his talk with Becky.
"I did not abandon you to fate." He argued with Rowan. "I abandoned you to Becky. Who, you have claimed, repeatedly is a nice, caring and wonderful woman. Are you retracting those words of praise?" Cris raised his eyebrows and looked from Rowan to Becky and then back again. "She did step on your feet." He narrowed his eyes at the brunette and spoke in a menacing whisper. "Do not think I missed that." Turning back to Rowan, he finished what he was saying. "But otherwise you were unharmed. Shall I go fetch a sword? I could challenge her to a duel for your honor."
Instead of getting his lover back as he intended, Cris received a different partner as Lynn chose to dance with Rowan. [My, aren't we the popular one tonight?] he sent to his redhead, glancing at him one last time before turning to Becky.
"A pleasure to meet you again. Please disregard any past mention of dueling. I promise I rarely stab people I have only just met." Obviously he could not say that he never stabbed strangers. While it was a rare occurrence in his current job, it still happened from time to time. As a mercenary he had stabbed more people than he could remember.
A faster song was played this time around. They could basically freestyle their dance moves and hope not to look like a complete idiot. Cris figured he was not doing the butter churn maneuver like the fellow nearest him or the really bad running man like a guy further away so he was faring better than some.
"You have really nice eyes." Becky told him bluntly, making Cris jerk the subjects of conversation back in her direction. "They seem honest."
"Thank you" He smiled at her and then glanced back toward Rowan and Lynn once more. She did not seem to be angry with him so, after a quick check on both of their auras, he turned his attention back to his dance partner.
"Do you love him?" She asked with yet more candor.
"Yes" Cris stated the simple unadorned truth while looking at her directly lest there be any doubt that he truly meant what he said.
"Good." Becky smiled at him but still looked like she was considering grilling him some more, just in case. "We all love Dr. Murphy. We wouldn't want to see him hurt." Normally he might wonder who the 'we' were and wonder whether Becky was hiding a crush on Rowan behind the facade of coworkers but it seemed to him that many of his boyfriend's fellow staff loved him. Becky was speaking the truth when she spoke for the others.
Smiling softly, Cris said. "Trust me, I never want to see him hurt much less be the cause of it."
"Good enough!" She smiled at him. "Now dip!"
He found his arms suddenly full of a laughing young woman. Cris was not sure that the requested action entirely went to the music but he was willing to play along. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he took a dramatic wide legged stance and then leaned her back in a deep dip. He paused for effect, made less effective by the giggles coming from his dance partner, before bringing her back up and giving her a mock smoldering stare and somber face, made longer and more over the top by the slightly sucked in cheeks and pursed lips. This caused a shocked snort and louder laughter.
They proceeded into a informal tango at twice its normal speed until they were once more next to Lynn and Rowan. Cris and Becky finished the dance with another dramatic dip, complete with giggles and mock serious faces from both of them.
Rowan Murphy
12 years ago
Rowan didn't even get the chance to banter back at Cris about a duel for his honor. He bit back several comments, not willing to shout them over the other dancers on the floor or the band, most of them having to do with being locked in a tower and letting down his hair for Cris.
If he couldn't dance with Cris, he could at least talk to him. Why did it always seem to happen this way? He remembered the first time they'd gone out dancing, and Rowan had ended up partnering Pakpao at the Howl. People saw two guys and just assumed there should be two girls, to equal things out. Rowan was generally a pretty optimistic person and to his credit he did think he and Cris would eventually get to dance together, but at the moment he was starting to wish he'd never taken this position Lynn had... well, suckered him into.
[I only want to be popular with one person,] he lamented to Cris. He wanted to send more. He was about to tell Cris that he felt like they might never get to dance, when he thought better of it. Cris had appeared to be enjoying himself with Susan... Rowan wanted Cris to have a good time here. So instead he remained quiet after that, with a little smile to Cris. Then he turned to Lynn.
His boss had clearly danced before which was no surprise. She was married, in her mid forties, and attended functions like this one on a semi-regular basis. Lynn was no superstar but she knew how to move to the music. She didn't wait long to broach the topic she wanted to discuss.
"Thanks for saving the presentation," she said.
Rowan smiled at her. He saw the look in her eyes; she suspected something but she didn't know what she suspected. "It was my pleasure," he responded, not about to give her an answer.
They danced for a few seconds more, and then Lynn looked up at him, her face worried. "Anonymous donor?"
"Oh, right, about that," Rowan said. "That would be me."
Lynn shook her head at him. "I thought that might be it," she said. "Rowan, do you have any idea how much we've raised so far?"
Rowan spun Lynn around. Twice. And then a third time. She growled at him after the third one. "Cut it out," she said, a hint of humor beneath her voice.
Rowan flashed a grin at her and pulled her back into a normal dance hold, bending down. "Don't worry about it," he said softly. "I've got it covered."
"You didn't have to do that," Lynn insisted. He voice, her manner, all spoke of worry. Intense worry.
"Lynn, do you honestly think I'd have made that promise if I couldn't keep it?"
She frowned at him. "No. But when you commit to a cause you really commit to a cause," she said. "I've seen you go far beyond what I would expect of any of our doctors. This takes the cake."
Rowan tilted his head at her. "You think I'm some kind of serial philanthropist?"
"Are you?"
It was a valid question; there were people out there with mental disorders who thought they were paying a penance for something or needed to give away all of their worldly belongings for a cause. Rowan smiled and shook his head.
"I'm not," he said. "I've told you before. My family is well off. I have the resources, and this is a good cause."
Lynn's eyes drilled into him a bit more. Rowan grinned at her again. "I'll have my banker contact you, you can rest assured I'm not beggaring myself for the cause, okay?"
"Fine," Lynn said. Then she relaxed, leaned close, and hugged him. "Thanks. It's sweet of you."
Rowan wanted to tell her to thank Cris, too, but it was best to keep the knowledge that they were both fairly well off under the cuff, as it were. Rowan knew he was several million into it already, from what he'd been hearing around the table. He wasn't using it; the hospital could do many more things with the money. Rowan was just glad he didn't have to deal with it. He had hired an accountant long ago to manage his money for him. Between regular donations to charities, multiple savings accounts in different locations, and the like, it could take a lot more time than he wanted to spend. Rowan actually only kept a small amount of his own wealth on hand for his own spending. The rest was tied up for exactly this sort of thing.
Having determined that Rowan wasn't about to end up homeless on the streets Lynn began to talk to him about other things, work related, that required his attention. He did his job but out of the corner of his eye he watched Becky and Cris.
God, they were adorable together. His heart gave a squeeze as he felt another little stab of jealousy. Oh, to swap places. His partner and his friend were completely goofing off now, engaged in a quick tango with mock smoky-seriousness. Rowan had seen Cris's lighter side on numerous occasions, but rarely out in public like this. It was downright silly, and Rowan was missing out! So unfair!
As Becky and Cris danced themselves over, Rowan smiled and squeezed Lynn's hand. "Thanks for letting me steal him, Christian," Lynn said. She gave them a little wave and headed off, presumably to dance with someone else. She was good at socializing for her cause.
"Can I please have him back now?" Rowan asked mournfully as Becky and Cris finished their dance and the band struck up yet another one.
Becky grinned. "You can. I didn't even have to step on his foot. He can stay." She stood on her tip-toes and kissed Cris quickly on the cheek, surprising Rowan. Becky had had a hard life and didn't generally take well to men. Apparently Cris passed the test and then some.
Becky looked over Rowan's shoulder and dropped Cris's hands with a soft laugh. "Good luck," she said, and turned to leave, perhaps to look for Jamie.
"Good luck?"
Before Rowan could ask for further clarification he was being hip-bumped out of the way. "Hey!"
And then it was too late, because Nora was siding her considerable self between them, turning her head to bat her eyelashes at Rowan. "Surely you won't mind, honey? I haven't had a handsome young blond to dance with since I was a little girl!"
Rowan lifted his hands in surrender. "Who's popular now?" he grumbled to Cris, grinning even though his heart sank.
Turning quickly, he bumped into Chara. "I wasn't about to leave you hanging," she said, smiling at him.
Rowan just laughed, straightened his jacket, and gave Chara an elaborate courtly bow before offering her his hand. It was all in fun... he'd get the next one with Cris. For sure.
If he couldn't dance with Cris, he could at least talk to him. Why did it always seem to happen this way? He remembered the first time they'd gone out dancing, and Rowan had ended up partnering Pakpao at the Howl. People saw two guys and just assumed there should be two girls, to equal things out. Rowan was generally a pretty optimistic person and to his credit he did think he and Cris would eventually get to dance together, but at the moment he was starting to wish he'd never taken this position Lynn had... well, suckered him into.
[I only want to be popular with one person,] he lamented to Cris. He wanted to send more. He was about to tell Cris that he felt like they might never get to dance, when he thought better of it. Cris had appeared to be enjoying himself with Susan... Rowan wanted Cris to have a good time here. So instead he remained quiet after that, with a little smile to Cris. Then he turned to Lynn.
His boss had clearly danced before which was no surprise. She was married, in her mid forties, and attended functions like this one on a semi-regular basis. Lynn was no superstar but she knew how to move to the music. She didn't wait long to broach the topic she wanted to discuss.
"Thanks for saving the presentation," she said.
Rowan smiled at her. He saw the look in her eyes; she suspected something but she didn't know what she suspected. "It was my pleasure," he responded, not about to give her an answer.
They danced for a few seconds more, and then Lynn looked up at him, her face worried. "Anonymous donor?"
"Oh, right, about that," Rowan said. "That would be me."
Lynn shook her head at him. "I thought that might be it," she said. "Rowan, do you have any idea how much we've raised so far?"
Rowan spun Lynn around. Twice. And then a third time. She growled at him after the third one. "Cut it out," she said, a hint of humor beneath her voice.
Rowan flashed a grin at her and pulled her back into a normal dance hold, bending down. "Don't worry about it," he said softly. "I've got it covered."
"You didn't have to do that," Lynn insisted. He voice, her manner, all spoke of worry. Intense worry.
"Lynn, do you honestly think I'd have made that promise if I couldn't keep it?"
She frowned at him. "No. But when you commit to a cause you really commit to a cause," she said. "I've seen you go far beyond what I would expect of any of our doctors. This takes the cake."
Rowan tilted his head at her. "You think I'm some kind of serial philanthropist?"
"Are you?"
It was a valid question; there were people out there with mental disorders who thought they were paying a penance for something or needed to give away all of their worldly belongings for a cause. Rowan smiled and shook his head.
"I'm not," he said. "I've told you before. My family is well off. I have the resources, and this is a good cause."
Lynn's eyes drilled into him a bit more. Rowan grinned at her again. "I'll have my banker contact you, you can rest assured I'm not beggaring myself for the cause, okay?"
"Fine," Lynn said. Then she relaxed, leaned close, and hugged him. "Thanks. It's sweet of you."
Rowan wanted to tell her to thank Cris, too, but it was best to keep the knowledge that they were both fairly well off under the cuff, as it were. Rowan knew he was several million into it already, from what he'd been hearing around the table. He wasn't using it; the hospital could do many more things with the money. Rowan was just glad he didn't have to deal with it. He had hired an accountant long ago to manage his money for him. Between regular donations to charities, multiple savings accounts in different locations, and the like, it could take a lot more time than he wanted to spend. Rowan actually only kept a small amount of his own wealth on hand for his own spending. The rest was tied up for exactly this sort of thing.
Having determined that Rowan wasn't about to end up homeless on the streets Lynn began to talk to him about other things, work related, that required his attention. He did his job but out of the corner of his eye he watched Becky and Cris.
God, they were adorable together. His heart gave a squeeze as he felt another little stab of jealousy. Oh, to swap places. His partner and his friend were completely goofing off now, engaged in a quick tango with mock smoky-seriousness. Rowan had seen Cris's lighter side on numerous occasions, but rarely out in public like this. It was downright silly, and Rowan was missing out! So unfair!
As Becky and Cris danced themselves over, Rowan smiled and squeezed Lynn's hand. "Thanks for letting me steal him, Christian," Lynn said. She gave them a little wave and headed off, presumably to dance with someone else. She was good at socializing for her cause.
"Can I please have him back now?" Rowan asked mournfully as Becky and Cris finished their dance and the band struck up yet another one.
Becky grinned. "You can. I didn't even have to step on his foot. He can stay." She stood on her tip-toes and kissed Cris quickly on the cheek, surprising Rowan. Becky had had a hard life and didn't generally take well to men. Apparently Cris passed the test and then some.
Becky looked over Rowan's shoulder and dropped Cris's hands with a soft laugh. "Good luck," she said, and turned to leave, perhaps to look for Jamie.
"Good luck?"
Before Rowan could ask for further clarification he was being hip-bumped out of the way. "Hey!"
And then it was too late, because Nora was siding her considerable self between them, turning her head to bat her eyelashes at Rowan. "Surely you won't mind, honey? I haven't had a handsome young blond to dance with since I was a little girl!"
Rowan lifted his hands in surrender. "Who's popular now?" he grumbled to Cris, grinning even though his heart sank.
Turning quickly, he bumped into Chara. "I wasn't about to leave you hanging," she said, smiling at him.
Rowan just laughed, straightened his jacket, and gave Chara an elaborate courtly bow before offering her his hand. It was all in fun... he'd get the next one with Cris. For sure.
Christian Bern
12 years ago
Cris gave Rowan a forlorn look around Nora and then slightly shrugged his shoulders. A jazzy Halloween jive began to play and he found that his dance partner knew how to do the Lindy. Nora was taller than he was by an inch or so, was broader of shoulder and hip, and of course looked like she could be his grandmother.
Speaking just loud enough for Rowan to hear, he answered his boyfriend with a flippant reply using the earlier surfer accent "Dude, what can I say, chicks dig me." He looked at Nora and flipped imaginary locks. "Its the hair."
"Sure it is." She shook her head and tsked at him. "I think you're as crazy as he is." Nora nodded her head back toward Rowan. "Not that that's a bad thing, mind you. He's a darlin, our Dr. Murphy."
He found himself the recipient of a stern look. They broke apart on one of the back steps and Nora waggled her finger at him. "He's a keeper, that one, so you better treat him right."
Cris gave her his best contrite school boy impression and nodded solemnly. "Yes, Ma'am." He glanced over and Rowan and then pouted slightly. "And I will do my best to keep him as soon as I can get my hands back on him."
Nora laughed at that and waved the complaint away dismissively. "You'll have him soon enough. We're just havin a bit of fun. Its not everyday that we get to see our unflappable Dr. Rowan so flustered. He's near fit to be tied already. Its adorable." She smiled at him with mischief in her eyes and he found that he couldn't help but smile back. He did want his redhead and he was growing impatient to dance with Rowan but he did not begrudge them their fun. It was obvious they all liked Rowan a lot and he knew his boyfriend was full of pranks and playfulness so his friends on the staff were only treating him to some of the same. Cris was felt somewhat honored to be involved.
"Well if you are going to 'fluster' him some more then I suggest you look like you are having a lot of fun."
"I -am- having fun, Honey, I always have fun. " She smiled. "I'm too old and life's too short not to. You remember that." Cris supplied another "Yes, Ma'am"
Nora gave him another smile and then half asked, half stated. "So you're the cook in the family. I'm guessin." She nodded back toward Rowan again.
"Of the two of us, Yes, I would say so. You heard Rowan. He is not exaggerating his lack of culinary prowess." She sighed and shook her head. "Every man should at least know how to make one dish. That's what I told my sons. So long as they can make something; that knowledge will serve them well time and time again."
"I still say he is not hopeless but I think I will have to approach the subject of food preparation delicately. I think we can interest him in it with the right motivation." He had a few ideas on that already but none were appropriate to share with Nora.
She nodded and looked at him thoughtfully. "So you know what I think?" Cris shook his head, no. "I think you should take that over worked man of yours and go away somewhere nice for the Christmas holidays, or whichever version of celebration you prefer. I don't want be non-pc or nothin." Nora harrumphed softly and then rolled her eyes. "Its getting a little ridiculous if you ask me."
Cris decided to play devil's advocate for the moment. "Surely you agree that some open-mindedness was necessary."
"Sure!" She agreed "But this business about mail person or flight attendant and things like that is just being nit picky. Next thing you know they will be calling us nurses something crazy like medical wellness assistants... or maybe specialists. Everyone is a specialist now a days. And this business about not saying Merry Christmas... If you know the person you are talkin to is a Christian then tell em Merry Damn Christmas." She snorted. "It doesn't mean you believe it. You're just wishing them a happy holiday. Telling someone happy birthday doesn't make it yours too does it? Its just become plum stupid, if ya ask me." Cris laughed and shook his head.
The dance continued on in that vein for the rest of it. Nora was easy enough to talk to and was willing to talk about just about anything. They made their way closer to Rowan and Chara as the song came to its conclusion.
Cris suddenly found himself looking up at his boyfriend from an inverted point of view as Nora pulled him close and gave him a dip, much like the ones he had done with Becky. He looked up at Rowan with big eyes and sent [Help me...]
Nora let him up and gave him a hug. "Thanks Sweetie. That was fun. Now I'm done for the night and going to go sit down. This dancing stuff is far more exhausting at my age." She smiled and Cris and gave him a wink before adding, "Definitely worth it though."
For the moment he was alone. Was it too much to hope for? Cris reached out his hands toward Rowan; maybe this time they could dance together.
Speaking just loud enough for Rowan to hear, he answered his boyfriend with a flippant reply using the earlier surfer accent "Dude, what can I say, chicks dig me." He looked at Nora and flipped imaginary locks. "Its the hair."
"Sure it is." She shook her head and tsked at him. "I think you're as crazy as he is." Nora nodded her head back toward Rowan. "Not that that's a bad thing, mind you. He's a darlin, our Dr. Murphy."
He found himself the recipient of a stern look. They broke apart on one of the back steps and Nora waggled her finger at him. "He's a keeper, that one, so you better treat him right."
Cris gave her his best contrite school boy impression and nodded solemnly. "Yes, Ma'am." He glanced over and Rowan and then pouted slightly. "And I will do my best to keep him as soon as I can get my hands back on him."
Nora laughed at that and waved the complaint away dismissively. "You'll have him soon enough. We're just havin a bit of fun. Its not everyday that we get to see our unflappable Dr. Rowan so flustered. He's near fit to be tied already. Its adorable." She smiled at him with mischief in her eyes and he found that he couldn't help but smile back. He did want his redhead and he was growing impatient to dance with Rowan but he did not begrudge them their fun. It was obvious they all liked Rowan a lot and he knew his boyfriend was full of pranks and playfulness so his friends on the staff were only treating him to some of the same. Cris was felt somewhat honored to be involved.
"Well if you are going to 'fluster' him some more then I suggest you look like you are having a lot of fun."
"I -am- having fun, Honey, I always have fun. " She smiled. "I'm too old and life's too short not to. You remember that." Cris supplied another "Yes, Ma'am"
Nora gave him another smile and then half asked, half stated. "So you're the cook in the family. I'm guessin." She nodded back toward Rowan again.
"Of the two of us, Yes, I would say so. You heard Rowan. He is not exaggerating his lack of culinary prowess." She sighed and shook her head. "Every man should at least know how to make one dish. That's what I told my sons. So long as they can make something; that knowledge will serve them well time and time again."
"I still say he is not hopeless but I think I will have to approach the subject of food preparation delicately. I think we can interest him in it with the right motivation." He had a few ideas on that already but none were appropriate to share with Nora.
She nodded and looked at him thoughtfully. "So you know what I think?" Cris shook his head, no. "I think you should take that over worked man of yours and go away somewhere nice for the Christmas holidays, or whichever version of celebration you prefer. I don't want be non-pc or nothin." Nora harrumphed softly and then rolled her eyes. "Its getting a little ridiculous if you ask me."
Cris decided to play devil's advocate for the moment. "Surely you agree that some open-mindedness was necessary."
"Sure!" She agreed "But this business about mail person or flight attendant and things like that is just being nit picky. Next thing you know they will be calling us nurses something crazy like medical wellness assistants... or maybe specialists. Everyone is a specialist now a days. And this business about not saying Merry Christmas... If you know the person you are talkin to is a Christian then tell em Merry Damn Christmas." She snorted. "It doesn't mean you believe it. You're just wishing them a happy holiday. Telling someone happy birthday doesn't make it yours too does it? Its just become plum stupid, if ya ask me." Cris laughed and shook his head.
The dance continued on in that vein for the rest of it. Nora was easy enough to talk to and was willing to talk about just about anything. They made their way closer to Rowan and Chara as the song came to its conclusion.
Cris suddenly found himself looking up at his boyfriend from an inverted point of view as Nora pulled him close and gave him a dip, much like the ones he had done with Becky. He looked up at Rowan with big eyes and sent [Help me...]
Nora let him up and gave him a hug. "Thanks Sweetie. That was fun. Now I'm done for the night and going to go sit down. This dancing stuff is far more exhausting at my age." She smiled and Cris and gave him a wink before adding, "Definitely worth it though."
For the moment he was alone. Was it too much to hope for? Cris reached out his hands toward Rowan; maybe this time they could dance together.
Rowan Murphy
12 years ago
Rowan started to dance with Chara, glancing at his smug, laughing co-workers and understanding completely what was happening here. He couldn't say he blamed them. He had known he'd end up dancing with some or all of them but Cris was fair game too and Cris was, well, ridiculously hot. Rowan watched his partner dancing energetically with Nora for a moment before shaking his head and turning back to give Chara his attention.
She was laughing at him already, teeth bright in her dark face, dark eyes dancing. "Not very sportsmanlike of us, is it," she said without apology.
"It's fair enough," Rowan conceded.
The dance was fast and light and while Chara was clearly not used to any kind of ballroom dance, shyness was not one of her failings. The two of them danced around like idiots, mostly, holding hands, spinning each other around, waving their hands in the air. Like Rowan, Chara didn't mind being in the spotlight.
They bantered back and forth as they made a spectacle of themselves. Chara didn't ask anything personal. Rowan hadn't expected her to. Chara was one of the few nurses he worked with who was both single and content to be so. She was much like Rowan used to be in the sense that she hopped from relationship to relationship without a backward glance. Of course, having Cris changed everything for Rowan but he wasn't going to lecture Chara on the virtues of monogamy. They were just here to dance.
It was nice to have someone to goof off with, too, because Rowan was feeling a little conflicted. On the one hand, seeing Cris so lighthearted and obviously having fun made Rowan very happy. Cris wasn't always so outgoing - not when he was being himself, anyway. On the other hand, though, Rowan loved the fact that this playfulness was usually reserved for him alone. Seeing Cris like this, with other people in his arms and that handsome smile on his face...
...Rowan could lose him.
It was a sobering thought. Rowan had never cared to keep anyone for a long time until now, and he had never really considered that it could be him, left alone and lonely if Cris found someone who suited him better. Granted, Rowan did not think Cris would leave him anytime soon; Cris didn't love lightly. It was the idea of it, however, that had Rowan feeling slightly anxious and a little jealous. He understood the irrationality of his own emotions, however, and focused for the moment on the fact that he really did enjoy seeing Cris and Nora dancing together.
Turning his attention back to Chara he spent the rest of their dance together engaged in a game they played often at the hospital. Chara was one of the ER nurses and was usually too busy for lengthy chats at work so they'd devised a fun way to pass each other in the hallways. It was a version of the alphabet game, but done with popular movie lines. The person whose turn it was had to think of a movie title that started with whatever letter of the alphabet they were on, and say a quote from that movie. The other one had to guess the movie title and then think of a quote from a movie that started with the next letter of the alphabet.
It wasn't the cleverest game on the planet but they had fun and it was a good 'passing each other in the hallway' game. Rowan laughed as they came up with line after line as they spun each other around almost wildly, watching to make sure they didn't take anyone else out with their exuberant dancing.
Rowan heard Cris's voice in his head as Chara pointed and laughed, saying, "Oh my God."
Rowan had to grin, too, at the sight of Nora dipping Cris. Those gorgeous blue eyes were fixed on him, though, and Rowan wasn't immune. [You don't seem like you need rescuing, lover,] he sent, [but I can provide help for sure.]
Chara let him go and Rowan realized they were both free. His heart skipped a beat and he crossed the distance to Cris as quickly as he could without mauling anyone in the process, although it was tempting. Rowan reached out for Cris's hands, his fingers finally, finally, brushing his partner's.
And then Cris was simply gone. Rowan looked down at his empty hands and then back up. Chara waved playfully at him from her new position at Cris's side, grinning. "Too slow, Dr. Murphy," she chided, then added, since it was her turn, "'You're cuter than I thought. I can see why he likes you.'" She addressed that to Cris, using little 'quotation fingers' so Rowan, at least, knew it was a movie line.
"I can't believe you just stole my boyfriend and then Matrixed me," Rowan said.
"Believe it," Chara said cheerfully. "'N' to you. Come up with a good one!"
Sighing mournfully Rowan turned away again, to be faced with a succession of dance partners. Elaine, Lisa, Sherrie, and Alexa all took a turn and then Nora returned to claim Rowan, along with receptionist Jon who had previously been dancing with Becky but decided to join in on the fun. Fortunately his co-workers had gone from claiming entire dances to claiming a minute or two here and there, but damn if they weren't doing an effective job of keeping him away from Cris. Oh, they were never more than a few feet from each other after that but getting to each other was becoming problematic.
Rowan was praying for dessert. After that they could make their escape from the benefit entirely. Hell they could probably leave before dessert and get away with it. For now, however, he resigned himself to the fact that his friends were playing with them both and doing a ridiculously good job of it. Therefore it came as a complete shock to him when they put an end to their game.
As the succession of fast songs ended and the band struck up a much slower one, Rowan found himself propelled by his current partner, Sherrie again, toward his boyfriend. "You guys have been good sports," she said with a little grin. "It's only fair you get to slow dance with your date."
And just like that, Rowan had Cris back, at last. With a long sigh of satisfaction he went to Cris, arms open, feeling like hours had passed since he'd seen him even though it couldn't have been more than ten or fifteen minutes.
She was laughing at him already, teeth bright in her dark face, dark eyes dancing. "Not very sportsmanlike of us, is it," she said without apology.
"It's fair enough," Rowan conceded.
The dance was fast and light and while Chara was clearly not used to any kind of ballroom dance, shyness was not one of her failings. The two of them danced around like idiots, mostly, holding hands, spinning each other around, waving their hands in the air. Like Rowan, Chara didn't mind being in the spotlight.
They bantered back and forth as they made a spectacle of themselves. Chara didn't ask anything personal. Rowan hadn't expected her to. Chara was one of the few nurses he worked with who was both single and content to be so. She was much like Rowan used to be in the sense that she hopped from relationship to relationship without a backward glance. Of course, having Cris changed everything for Rowan but he wasn't going to lecture Chara on the virtues of monogamy. They were just here to dance.
It was nice to have someone to goof off with, too, because Rowan was feeling a little conflicted. On the one hand, seeing Cris so lighthearted and obviously having fun made Rowan very happy. Cris wasn't always so outgoing - not when he was being himself, anyway. On the other hand, though, Rowan loved the fact that this playfulness was usually reserved for him alone. Seeing Cris like this, with other people in his arms and that handsome smile on his face...
...Rowan could lose him.
It was a sobering thought. Rowan had never cared to keep anyone for a long time until now, and he had never really considered that it could be him, left alone and lonely if Cris found someone who suited him better. Granted, Rowan did not think Cris would leave him anytime soon; Cris didn't love lightly. It was the idea of it, however, that had Rowan feeling slightly anxious and a little jealous. He understood the irrationality of his own emotions, however, and focused for the moment on the fact that he really did enjoy seeing Cris and Nora dancing together.
Turning his attention back to Chara he spent the rest of their dance together engaged in a game they played often at the hospital. Chara was one of the ER nurses and was usually too busy for lengthy chats at work so they'd devised a fun way to pass each other in the hallways. It was a version of the alphabet game, but done with popular movie lines. The person whose turn it was had to think of a movie title that started with whatever letter of the alphabet they were on, and say a quote from that movie. The other one had to guess the movie title and then think of a quote from a movie that started with the next letter of the alphabet.
It wasn't the cleverest game on the planet but they had fun and it was a good 'passing each other in the hallway' game. Rowan laughed as they came up with line after line as they spun each other around almost wildly, watching to make sure they didn't take anyone else out with their exuberant dancing.
Rowan heard Cris's voice in his head as Chara pointed and laughed, saying, "Oh my God."
Rowan had to grin, too, at the sight of Nora dipping Cris. Those gorgeous blue eyes were fixed on him, though, and Rowan wasn't immune. [You don't seem like you need rescuing, lover,] he sent, [but I can provide help for sure.]
Chara let him go and Rowan realized they were both free. His heart skipped a beat and he crossed the distance to Cris as quickly as he could without mauling anyone in the process, although it was tempting. Rowan reached out for Cris's hands, his fingers finally, finally, brushing his partner's.
And then Cris was simply gone. Rowan looked down at his empty hands and then back up. Chara waved playfully at him from her new position at Cris's side, grinning. "Too slow, Dr. Murphy," she chided, then added, since it was her turn, "'You're cuter than I thought. I can see why he likes you.'" She addressed that to Cris, using little 'quotation fingers' so Rowan, at least, knew it was a movie line.
"I can't believe you just stole my boyfriend and then Matrixed me," Rowan said.
"Believe it," Chara said cheerfully. "'N' to you. Come up with a good one!"
Sighing mournfully Rowan turned away again, to be faced with a succession of dance partners. Elaine, Lisa, Sherrie, and Alexa all took a turn and then Nora returned to claim Rowan, along with receptionist Jon who had previously been dancing with Becky but decided to join in on the fun. Fortunately his co-workers had gone from claiming entire dances to claiming a minute or two here and there, but damn if they weren't doing an effective job of keeping him away from Cris. Oh, they were never more than a few feet from each other after that but getting to each other was becoming problematic.
Rowan was praying for dessert. After that they could make their escape from the benefit entirely. Hell they could probably leave before dessert and get away with it. For now, however, he resigned himself to the fact that his friends were playing with them both and doing a ridiculously good job of it. Therefore it came as a complete shock to him when they put an end to their game.
As the succession of fast songs ended and the band struck up a much slower one, Rowan found himself propelled by his current partner, Sherrie again, toward his boyfriend. "You guys have been good sports," she said with a little grin. "It's only fair you get to slow dance with your date."
And just like that, Rowan had Cris back, at last. With a long sigh of satisfaction he went to Cris, arms open, feeling like hours had passed since he'd seen him even though it couldn't have been more than ten or fifteen minutes.
Christian Bern
12 years ago
Cris tried to grasp Rowan's hand, stretching toward his companion even as someone tugged him away. His lover's fingers slid from his grasp. The petite raven haired woman smiled at him and tugged him further onto the dance floor by his arm.
Alexa, he recalled.
She was looking over his shoulder, watching his redhead with absent interest, the half focused gaze and faint smile of one who day dreamed of something better. He didn't need to read her aura to know that she was attracted to Rowan and probably had held out some hope of catching his eye.
Well, Cris couldn't exactly blame her. He was not sure how he had managed to capture Rowan's interest but he counted himself lucky every single day.
Alexa smiled up at him as they moved to the "Monster Mash" (How did one dance to this song anyway?) and tilted her head to the side.
"So do you know how Dr. Murphy got all of his piercings?" No, actually he didn't. Cris knew for a fact that Rowan didn't either. He shrugged and smiled at her. "I believe he told me that it was a complicated fishing accident." Alexa frowned, a ruby bottom lip puckering in a slight pout. "I am not surprised. He told me they were the result of alien abduction." She rolled her eyes. "So he is always so...so...mysterious?"
Cris turned and looked over at their topic of conversation, doing some crazy dancing with one of the other nurses. He smiled and shrugged. "He does not seem all that mysterious to me anymore." Rowan had become all the sweeter for becoming a normal and familiar piece of his life. Now when Cris woke up in the middle of the day, his hands sought Rowan before his eyes fully opened. That he expected to find Rowan, to wake up beside him, was even more amazing than the first few weeks of wonderful discovery. Every day was sweet than the last. "I think he will always be surprising." He watched his lover spin his dance partner around before turning back to Alexa with the remnants of the smile for Rue still on his face. "I like that about him."
She sighed at that smile, knowing what it was and agreed. "I think I would like that about him too." Cris merely nodded; saying things like "You will find someone just as wonderful some day" or "There are plenty more fish in the sea" were platitudes that no single person ever truly found comforting, especially when they were told to them by someone who was in a gloriously happy relationship.
His next dance partner actually managed to find a round about way to ask whether or not Rowan was good in bed. Cris politely informed her that he did not kiss and tell, especially when the telling would only inspire jealousy and longing.
Becky eventually rescued him from the interviews with an amused, knowing look on her face. "I think you have only managed to make their obsession with Dr. Murphy worse." She chuckled at his look of dismay. "You could have lied to them, say he drinks like a fish, you fight all the time and on top of it all he snores...loudly."
Cris nodded and gazed at her through dark lashes, eyebrows drawn together in a nervous expression. He spoke in a quiet voice, almost timid. "He beats me too." Becky looked shocked for a brief moment, his solemn impression convincing in that instant before reason set in; then she seemed to recall who they were talking about and gave him a skeptical arch of one eyebrow.
"At video games." Cris finished with a wink. She slapped him lightly on the arm. "You just keep it up, Mister, and they will be after you too."
"But..." Cris frowned. Becky led him by the hand through the crowd. "But..why? I am spoken for."
"That is so adorable." It was all the answer he was given. Becky came around behind him and shoved him in the back, pushing him toward a new dance partner.
The one he wanted to be with from the start.
Cris reached his arms up and placed them hesitantly on top of his partner's shoulders, half expecting to pulled away from Rowan once more. He slid them along the luxurious fabric of Rowan's tux until they came together behind his lover's neck. This time he would not be taken away without a fight. Not now, not with Rowan in his arms. It seemed, though, that the game was at an end at last. Sighing softly, Cris laid his head against Rowan's chest and felt some of the tension drain of his body. He was finally with his partner and that made everything alright once more.
"If you dare ask me questions, like 'what my favorite food is', I will bite you." Cris turned his head up to look at Rowan. [Of course you are my favorite food so biting should be expected.]
"Everything okay now, Love?" He was asking about a number of things and letting Rowan choose which one he wanted to comment on, the presentation, his relations with Becky, the dancing, or whatever else might be going on in the short eternity they had been apart from each other.
Alexa, he recalled.
She was looking over his shoulder, watching his redhead with absent interest, the half focused gaze and faint smile of one who day dreamed of something better. He didn't need to read her aura to know that she was attracted to Rowan and probably had held out some hope of catching his eye.
Well, Cris couldn't exactly blame her. He was not sure how he had managed to capture Rowan's interest but he counted himself lucky every single day.
Alexa smiled up at him as they moved to the "Monster Mash" (How did one dance to this song anyway?) and tilted her head to the side.
"So do you know how Dr. Murphy got all of his piercings?" No, actually he didn't. Cris knew for a fact that Rowan didn't either. He shrugged and smiled at her. "I believe he told me that it was a complicated fishing accident." Alexa frowned, a ruby bottom lip puckering in a slight pout. "I am not surprised. He told me they were the result of alien abduction." She rolled her eyes. "So he is always so...so...mysterious?"
Cris turned and looked over at their topic of conversation, doing some crazy dancing with one of the other nurses. He smiled and shrugged. "He does not seem all that mysterious to me anymore." Rowan had become all the sweeter for becoming a normal and familiar piece of his life. Now when Cris woke up in the middle of the day, his hands sought Rowan before his eyes fully opened. That he expected to find Rowan, to wake up beside him, was even more amazing than the first few weeks of wonderful discovery. Every day was sweet than the last. "I think he will always be surprising." He watched his lover spin his dance partner around before turning back to Alexa with the remnants of the smile for Rue still on his face. "I like that about him."
She sighed at that smile, knowing what it was and agreed. "I think I would like that about him too." Cris merely nodded; saying things like "You will find someone just as wonderful some day" or "There are plenty more fish in the sea" were platitudes that no single person ever truly found comforting, especially when they were told to them by someone who was in a gloriously happy relationship.
His next dance partner actually managed to find a round about way to ask whether or not Rowan was good in bed. Cris politely informed her that he did not kiss and tell, especially when the telling would only inspire jealousy and longing.
Becky eventually rescued him from the interviews with an amused, knowing look on her face. "I think you have only managed to make their obsession with Dr. Murphy worse." She chuckled at his look of dismay. "You could have lied to them, say he drinks like a fish, you fight all the time and on top of it all he snores...loudly."
Cris nodded and gazed at her through dark lashes, eyebrows drawn together in a nervous expression. He spoke in a quiet voice, almost timid. "He beats me too." Becky looked shocked for a brief moment, his solemn impression convincing in that instant before reason set in; then she seemed to recall who they were talking about and gave him a skeptical arch of one eyebrow.
"At video games." Cris finished with a wink. She slapped him lightly on the arm. "You just keep it up, Mister, and they will be after you too."
"But..." Cris frowned. Becky led him by the hand through the crowd. "But..why? I am spoken for."
"That is so adorable." It was all the answer he was given. Becky came around behind him and shoved him in the back, pushing him toward a new dance partner.
The one he wanted to be with from the start.
Cris reached his arms up and placed them hesitantly on top of his partner's shoulders, half expecting to pulled away from Rowan once more. He slid them along the luxurious fabric of Rowan's tux until they came together behind his lover's neck. This time he would not be taken away without a fight. Not now, not with Rowan in his arms. It seemed, though, that the game was at an end at last. Sighing softly, Cris laid his head against Rowan's chest and felt some of the tension drain of his body. He was finally with his partner and that made everything alright once more.
"If you dare ask me questions, like 'what my favorite food is', I will bite you." Cris turned his head up to look at Rowan. [Of course you are my favorite food so biting should be expected.]
"Everything okay now, Love?" He was asking about a number of things and letting Rowan choose which one he wanted to comment on, the presentation, his relations with Becky, the dancing, or whatever else might be going on in the short eternity they had been apart from each other.
Rowan Murphy
12 years ago
This time no one intervened and Rowan's heart lifted as he felt Cris's warmth against him, his partner's hands smoothing over his shoulders and then wrapping around his neck. Rowan let out a long breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding and slipped his arms around Cris's waist. Stepping close he pulled Cris tightly to him as Cris rested his head against Rowan's chest.
He laughed softly at Cris's statement, the sound rumbling through his chest. As Cris tilted his head up Rowan bent and kissed him, rather thoroughly and definitely shamelessly. He didn't care by that point who was watching and who wasn't. He did hear a catcall from suspiciously close to his co-workers' table but he didn't look for the guilty party. He was too busy.
When Rowan finally did pull away, it was only to bend closer to Cris, and, with his lips against his boyfriend's ear, whisper, "Oh, but what if I want to be bitten?"
Rowan finally remembered they weren't alone in private, they were on a very public, very crowded dance floor. He kept Cris close and began to sway to the music, enough to qualify as 'dancing.' Maybe it was a watered-down high-school-prom version, but it wouldn't get them kicked off the floor.
He considered Cris's question for a few moments. He felt... uncomfortably insecure, still, but those feelings were greatly diminished by just having Cris here, pressed close. He had felt his partner relax into his arms, he'd heard Cris's relieved sigh. He had only to open himself up and knew he would feel Cris's affection as well, but it wasn't necessary. He felt it without empathy. Those things, coupled with the general contentment he always felt when Cris was near, made him feel just about perfect. There was still some lingering worry but Rowan didn't let things like that keep him down. He'd work hard, that's all, to be everything Cris ever wanted or needed.
He squeezed his arms tight. "Yeah, everything is fine. I have you."
Don't leave me, he thought, as if Cris could somehow hear it. Don't ever leave me.
"We don't need to stay until the end," he murmured softly. "Everyone else is going out after this. They invited us along but I'd rather not. Unless you'd like to."
Cris had appeared to be having a decent time. If he really did want to go out with Rowan's co-workers Rowan would happily go along, but his preference was to go upstairs and indulge in the quiet luxurious privacy of the room waiting for them.
He laughed softly at Cris's statement, the sound rumbling through his chest. As Cris tilted his head up Rowan bent and kissed him, rather thoroughly and definitely shamelessly. He didn't care by that point who was watching and who wasn't. He did hear a catcall from suspiciously close to his co-workers' table but he didn't look for the guilty party. He was too busy.
When Rowan finally did pull away, it was only to bend closer to Cris, and, with his lips against his boyfriend's ear, whisper, "Oh, but what if I want to be bitten?"
Rowan finally remembered they weren't alone in private, they were on a very public, very crowded dance floor. He kept Cris close and began to sway to the music, enough to qualify as 'dancing.' Maybe it was a watered-down high-school-prom version, but it wouldn't get them kicked off the floor.
He considered Cris's question for a few moments. He felt... uncomfortably insecure, still, but those feelings were greatly diminished by just having Cris here, pressed close. He had felt his partner relax into his arms, he'd heard Cris's relieved sigh. He had only to open himself up and knew he would feel Cris's affection as well, but it wasn't necessary. He felt it without empathy. Those things, coupled with the general contentment he always felt when Cris was near, made him feel just about perfect. There was still some lingering worry but Rowan didn't let things like that keep him down. He'd work hard, that's all, to be everything Cris ever wanted or needed.
He squeezed his arms tight. "Yeah, everything is fine. I have you."
Don't leave me, he thought, as if Cris could somehow hear it. Don't ever leave me.
"We don't need to stay until the end," he murmured softly. "Everyone else is going out after this. They invited us along but I'd rather not. Unless you'd like to."
Cris had appeared to be having a decent time. If he really did want to go out with Rowan's co-workers Rowan would happily go along, but his preference was to go upstairs and indulge in the quiet luxurious privacy of the room waiting for them.
Christian Bern
12 years ago
It felt indescribably good to be back in Rowan's arms. Cris pressed as close as he could and noticed that his partner was holding him just as tightly. Smiling to himself, he noted silently that it seemed he had been missed as well. The firm grip around his waist was reassuring and he relaxed even more, knowing that he was not alone in the desperate desire to be with his beloved. Cris would have believed that his own discomfort was from not being a very social creature, unlike Rowan, and these people, nice as they all were, were still mostly strangers to him. However, his redhead appeared to have longed for him just as much and that was comforting as well.
Cris found that he had less time to contemplate it than he would have imagined. He had turned his head up toward Rowan to speak to his partner and found himself the recipient of one hell of kiss. The hands around Rowan's neck tightened, pulling his partner closer, if such a thing were possible. Moaning softly against his lover's lips, Cris returned the embrace with eagerness. He wanted to be kissed just this way, at just this moment. Everything else fell away as unimportant, even the sounds that confirmed that there were people who had noticed their embrace.
When the kiss was over, it was with reluctance that he loosened his grip from behind Rowan's neck. Cris gave his lover a little breathless laugh and smile at the playful query whispered in his ear. "Kiss me like that again and I can promise you that you will get your wish."
Rowan took longer to answer his own question than he would have suspected. It was tempting to check his partner's aura with his other senses but that seemed rather unfair at the moment. He had asked and it seemed only right that his lover be allowed to answer in his own time. It was hard to hide feelings from an empath over the long term of a relationship but he did not need to strip Rowan of every little private emotion simply for the sake of his own insecurities.
His lover squeezed him tightly once more and claimed everything was fine now that he had him. "That you do, My Love." Cris smiled and raised himself up enough to give Rowan a soft, tender kiss. "Always."
He shook his head when his partner asked if he wished to go out to the informal get-together afterward. "Your co-workers all seem like nice people. I am happy to have met them." Cris laid his head back down on Rowan's shoulder. "but I would like you all to myself for a while." [I am selfish and unsociable.] Cris did take pleasure in noting that Rowan had said that he didn't want to go either. Perhaps he was a bad influence but Cris had a hard time drumming up any remorse at the moment.
Cris found that he had less time to contemplate it than he would have imagined. He had turned his head up toward Rowan to speak to his partner and found himself the recipient of one hell of kiss. The hands around Rowan's neck tightened, pulling his partner closer, if such a thing were possible. Moaning softly against his lover's lips, Cris returned the embrace with eagerness. He wanted to be kissed just this way, at just this moment. Everything else fell away as unimportant, even the sounds that confirmed that there were people who had noticed their embrace.
When the kiss was over, it was with reluctance that he loosened his grip from behind Rowan's neck. Cris gave his lover a little breathless laugh and smile at the playful query whispered in his ear. "Kiss me like that again and I can promise you that you will get your wish."
Rowan took longer to answer his own question than he would have suspected. It was tempting to check his partner's aura with his other senses but that seemed rather unfair at the moment. He had asked and it seemed only right that his lover be allowed to answer in his own time. It was hard to hide feelings from an empath over the long term of a relationship but he did not need to strip Rowan of every little private emotion simply for the sake of his own insecurities.
His lover squeezed him tightly once more and claimed everything was fine now that he had him. "That you do, My Love." Cris smiled and raised himself up enough to give Rowan a soft, tender kiss. "Always."
He shook his head when his partner asked if he wished to go out to the informal get-together afterward. "Your co-workers all seem like nice people. I am happy to have met them." Cris laid his head back down on Rowan's shoulder. "but I would like you all to myself for a while." [I am selfish and unsociable.] Cris did take pleasure in noting that Rowan had said that he didn't want to go either. Perhaps he was a bad influence but Cris had a hard time drumming up any remorse at the moment.
Rowan Murphy
12 years ago
Rowan loved the way Cris melted against him as he savored their too-brief kiss. He could have stayed right there for hours, but for the fact that it would be unconscionably rude of them. The feel of his Cris pressed so close, so relaxed, so in tune with him, did a lot to ease Rowan's insecurity.
"I love how you always keep your promises," he said, smiling at Cris. With that he made sure of it, kissing Cris once more just as thoroughly.
When Cris told him 'always' he believed it. Rowan's soft smile grew as he contemplated such an always. Instead of calming him, though, the idea only served to help intensify the feelings of need inside. What was it he needed, he wondered? It was Cris, but he always needed Cris.
Tonight it was a bit more. Rowan wanted to feel needed in return. He wanted to feel beyond any doubt that Cris trusted him, wanted to be himself around him. Rowan loved everything that Cris was. The good, the bad, the unusual. It all blended together to make a person Rowan loved with so much intensity it was frightening sometimes. Still glorious though. Always.
"I would like you to have me all to yourself for a while," Rowan said smiling once more.
[I don't think you're selfish,] Rowan sent back, [and I have to admit I like the antisocial part. It means I get you all to myself, too.]
First there was dessert to get through, made all the more difficult by the fact that all Rowan could think about was how much better each confection would taste if eaten... differently. Then he had to politely bid each patron good night although he made quick work of that. They were finally free after what felt like an eternity though, and as the ceremony drew to a close Rowan took the opportunity to slip his hand into Cris's and gently tug. Together they made their way through the crowd and quietly headed to the elevators. Once inside it was like the world disappeared. Rowan turned to Cris and sighed softly, relaxing, looking forward to the rest of the night ahead which was just beginning.
((Ooc : Rowan and Cris out))
"I love how you always keep your promises," he said, smiling at Cris. With that he made sure of it, kissing Cris once more just as thoroughly.
When Cris told him 'always' he believed it. Rowan's soft smile grew as he contemplated such an always. Instead of calming him, though, the idea only served to help intensify the feelings of need inside. What was it he needed, he wondered? It was Cris, but he always needed Cris.
Tonight it was a bit more. Rowan wanted to feel needed in return. He wanted to feel beyond any doubt that Cris trusted him, wanted to be himself around him. Rowan loved everything that Cris was. The good, the bad, the unusual. It all blended together to make a person Rowan loved with so much intensity it was frightening sometimes. Still glorious though. Always.
"I would like you to have me all to yourself for a while," Rowan said smiling once more.
[I don't think you're selfish,] Rowan sent back, [and I have to admit I like the antisocial part. It means I get you all to myself, too.]
First there was dessert to get through, made all the more difficult by the fact that all Rowan could think about was how much better each confection would taste if eaten... differently. Then he had to politely bid each patron good night although he made quick work of that. They were finally free after what felt like an eternity though, and as the ceremony drew to a close Rowan took the opportunity to slip his hand into Cris's and gently tug. Together they made their way through the crowd and quietly headed to the elevators. Once inside it was like the world disappeared. Rowan turned to Cris and sighed softly, relaxing, looking forward to the rest of the night ahead which was just beginning.
((Ooc : Rowan and Cris out))