Tragedians AU

[ay_my_lord]

*Horatio gets precious few moments to indulge himself with truly hardcore geekery--but the yearly Ren Faire is one of them. being a thespian means he knows how to wear a 1610 Flemish doublet with appropriate ease and grace--and being Guildenstern's boyfriend means that Guildenstern is probably trying not to be seen with him as they wander between

Comments

[mostlyrhetoric]

*for his part, has been wondering what he's doing here at all with anyone -- this seems more like Ros's venue than his, Ros would even dress up and clap for joy at every flashy performer and trinket (but Ros isn't Horatio's boyfriend, Guil is and that makes being here with him -- he doesn't know what it makes it, but he feels a queer, possessive impulse, to grab Horatio by the arm and pull him close; he doesn't, of course, he walks with his hands behind his back and the distancing is nearly palpable, until Horatio pulls him instead as though it were the easiest thing) -- that is a long way just to say, he nods (blushes), and speaks with something of indulgence in his voice* Very handsome.

[ay_my_lord]

*a tiny little smile* We can look at something else, if you'd rather ... get you a new ring for your ear, or listen to that woman with the harp ...

[mostlyrhetoric]

I confess I'm not partial to anything, except ... *falters; he is such a kid around Horatio* ... I'm not partial to anything. Whatever you would like best.

[ay_my_lord]

*kisses his cheek* No, go on. Except what?

[mostlyrhetoric]

*aghblush -- with affected indifference* Except to spend the time with you.

[ay_my_lord]

*and even with the indifference, that was sweet; Horatio will have to take Guildenstern's hand for that and squeeze it warmly* We'll have to do that. I like spending time with you. *smile* Does it really not matter where we go, or what we do?

[mostlyrhetoric]

Certainly it matters -- nothing that hazards life or dignity. But anything apart from that is only an opportunity to know more of you, and your eclectic pastimes. *wry -- but even, though he's still not quite sure of communicating through touch, he does consciously press his palm in Horatio's, link together their fingers* I'm a student here. Do teach me.

[ay_my_lord]

*oh, Guildenstern, you're trying so hard--! then Horatio will pull him gently to the booth selling staves, and draw his attention to a few marked for display only* See, these aren't meant as walking sticks or fighting staffs--they're made of oak and ash and rowan, which are supposed to be magic woods. And this one *he points to the oak* is carved with the Green Man--who's supposed to be a symbol of spring and rebirth. That one *indicating the rowan* is set with peridot ... I can't remember what those are supposed to mean. *smile* They're magicians' staffs, you see.

[mostlyrhetoric]

*eyebrow raise* For what magicians?

[ay_my_lord]

I don't know ... maybe someone plays a wizard, and wants a good staff for it. Or maybe someone who believes in those kinds of religion ... *littlesmile* I don't know.

[mostlyrhetoric]

*-- you know, that little smile is cute, wants to touch the corner of it and tease him over it, but -- no, focuses on the staffs instead, examines the oak* I've seen that image before, I think -- in a more trivial context, as a lawn ornament, and I didn't know it had any significance beyond the aesthetic. But an aesthetic that appealed to imagination for meaning ... nature imbued with intelligence, a human face out of clustering leaves ... *slight amusement* It is good to have a name for it.

[ay_my_lord]

*grins* They're all over old architecture--especially in Germany. So it's not just lawn ornaments, it's also gargoyles and things ... people have been decorating with that kind of face for a long time.

[mostlyrhetoric]

*curious* And is it commonly understood what it symbolizes?

[ay_my_lord]

I don't know ... maybe. Or maybe Gothic architects just thought he looked like any other gargoyle. *sheepish* I haven't studied it that much.

[mostlyrhetoric]

I only ask because it puts me in mind of certain styles of Renaissance art, composed almost entirely of symbols so that one could read the statues on a side of building as though they were hieroglyphs. But I haven't studied it, either. *wryly* All part of the same appeal to imagination and intelligence, I suppose. Meaning can be created equally from the shapes of leaves and historical facts.

[ay_my_lord]

*kisses the corner of his mouth, gently* I like that idea.