(Untitled)

[13sugars]

Who: Abel Nightroad and Cesare Borgia
Where: The High School, Cesare's room
When: November 3rd
Rating: G to PG
Summary: It's been waaaaay too long since Abel had a nice chat with Cesare that wasn't over the communicator. So he's gonna go fix that.
the log:

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[13sugars]

The priest didn't show any signs of changing his attitude. Why would he? He'd known worse, more frightening people. People who tread in nearly the same path as the man who he had come to see as a friend now. People who had turned towards a darker path than he. People who were beyond all saving, who didn't even desire to be saved anymore.

He genuinely enjoyed his time with the younger man. Enjoyed talking with him, learning about him, even if it wasn't all that much, or just plain shooting the breeze. Even though Cesare knew what Abel was, what he was capable of to a degree, it didn't seem to have changed anything between the two... In fact to Abel, the knowledge almost seemed to strengthen the growing bond.

Well now, this was a first. He'd never seen the other dressed so casually before. He seemed a bit surprised at first, before shaking it off and smiling... Did he notice the pale look on the others face? That seeming weakness? ... He gave no sign. Perhaps... other than the faint flicker of concern on his face, that was hidden in an instant. No need to fuss over the boy.

"I figured you needed the company. It's been a while since we've really talked, so I thought I'd stop by and keep you company for a bit."

Oh dear, the teasing comment caught him off guard for a moment, the priest briefly turning a rosy shade of pink. Oop! Almost dropped a cup there! He fumbled with it for a second before finally catching it, laughing nervously. "H-hey now, don't tease me!"

[hispoisonsmile]

Offering the older man a bright smile as he stepped closer and took the cups with slender hands, steadying himself with a palm against Abel's forearm as he leaned up on his toes to brush an affectionate, brotherly kiss across his cheek. "I can't help it, I'm afraid-- you're too easy to tease, my dear," he admitted with a warm smile, dropping back down onto his heels again and moving to set the cups down on his desk. It really was true-- Abel could be ridiculously adorable, sometimes, for a man who was nearly a thousand years old. And well, he didn't take things too seriously the way Volpe did-- nor was the guilt and sorrow and obligation that so defined his relationship with Chiaro in the way. He could just.. enjoy Abel's company, tease him a bit, and not have to worry about anything else for a little while.

Immediately, he began clearing space on the desk for the tea, shuffling papers together and stacking books in a pile. Even when he was bedridden, it seemed, he managed to keep busy-- learning, reading, doing translations, and making plans. The only way to truly endure everything was by keeping busy, and he did so with a sort of single-mindedness that said quite clearly that he was used to having much more to do.

"I'm very grateful for the company," he added after a moment, pulling up the only other chair in the room and blowing hair out of his face with a slight huff. "To be honest, if Xellos had been here much longer, I might have fled to your room just to escape him." A pause, as if he realized that the name probably wouldn't mean anything to Abel, before biting off a short, sharp laugh. "Sorry-- he's a demon, and demons are.. attracted to me, I suppose. My aura. So it seems that he is, too, no matter that he isn't from my world."

[13sugars]

Cesare would certainly have to reach to get to Abels face. He helped a bit, bowing down a few inches or so before straightening back up, attempting to resist the blush that was threatening to just get darker. Oh, all flustered again. "You don't always have to take advantage of it!" It was mock drama though, the priest was smiling brightly, picking out a place for himself to sit. He may as well have been asking for it. He kind of knew that. Really though, it wasn't like he walked into the room with the intention of making the man tease him! Honest!

He assisted a bit with the cleaning, unsure of where to stack the various papers and books. "Still working even here? You know, some people kind of see arrival here as a bit of a break from day to day paper work." He flipped through some of the texts and the papers before setting those aside elsewhere. "I should show you one of my favorite walking routes here. Relatively safe and invigorating. It'll be good for you!"

He cleared out a little more before finally really settling down with a sigh, setting up the tea and milk. "Xellos?" Oh, wait, well there was his answer to him! Abel blinked, appearing a bit confused. "I know a demon here, actually. Cube. He seems like a nice enough young man. A workaholic at the hospital and nearly everywhere else, but he's pretty friendly. I think Raphael is one too."

[hispoisonsmile]

Oddly charmed by Abel's willingness to indulge in his affectionate whims, Cesare struggled to hide his smile as he took the books from Abel, placing them on the floor next to his desk. He settled into his own chair, then, crossing his thighs neatly and resting his hands loosely together in his lap. "I have to keep busy or I go a bit mad," he admitted with a slightly sheepish glance. "I'm used to having too much to do all the time." A pause, and he tapped his mouth thoughtfully, mouth quirking at the mention of a walking route. ".. I wouldn't object. I enjoy getting out of here, but I tire too quickly some days." He visited the library a great deal-- hence the books. He also scavenged here and there for paper. The communicator was convenient, but he appreciated writing much more. It was cathartic in many ways.

Quiet then as Abel set up the tea for them both, the teen seemed lost in thought until he was handed a cup. His hands rose automatically to take it, clumsy for a moment before they steadied again. "Perhaps it's only a certain kind of demon, then," he mused with a delicate shrug, enjoying the warmth of the cup seeping through the porcelain. "God only knows what he wants with me-- he seems less inclined to feast on my soul than the others." A slight twitch of his lips at that, realizing belatedly that it sounded a bit morbid. "I'm sorry, ignore that last bit. I'm still used to talking to Chiaro." Chiaro didn't get upset when he heard Cesare say such things-- there was no point in it, after all. "Anyway-- my point is that he's very much like a particularly curious child, and I don't do well with children. I also like my privacy, which is something he apparently doesn't believe in."

[13sugars]

Abel chuckled at the first remarks. "You almost sound like Esther. She can't bear to sit around and do nothing, always has to be on her feet. But, it suits you, I certainly don't want you going insane on me. Then who am I going to talk to?" A little joke, Abel carefully measured the tea and milk, spooning in only a few spoonfuls of sugar into the pot to keep it reasonably sweet. "I'll cut the route in half for you then, I don't mind. It'd be nice to have someone to walk with now and again. And I don't want to bother Esther or Caterina too terribly much for their time here, not when the former has a job and the latter just settled in here."

His hand hovered by Cesares for a moment at that brief second of clumsiness, worried he'd spill the hot tea all over himself. He was good? Alright, good, he drew back again. "Perhaps. You should talk with Cube as well, you'd find him a charming host and a wonderful person." Well, then, Cube was a butler, after all." The comment about.... feasting on souls got Abels attention, the blue eyes staring almost as wide as saucers at the other man for a moment. Oh, looks like you caught him a bit off guard there. "... Ah..." He coughed, before collecting himself again. "I see, so he's..." What's the word... Abel thought for a moment before settling on one with a sheepish laugh. "Obnoxious?"

so sorry for the wait.. no electricity today. ):

[hispoisonsmile]

"Do I?" the dark-haired man mused aloud, a delicate smile curving his mouth. "She seems kind, your Esther." Kind, but very, very young. Sometimes, Cesare had a hard time remembering that he was only nineteen, himself-- he felt so much older most days. He supposed perhaps his experiences had made him that way. He had, after all, entered the world as a hated child, and had gone through life knowing that. Was it any wonder that he'd learned to push down gentle feelings?

He lifted the cup, blowing across the top of it once, dark violet eyes lifting to meet Abel's with a warm, affectionate glance. "That's very kind of you. I'd appreciate it a great deal." The idea actually pleased him a great deal, to be honest-- after all, he supposed it was no secret that he enjoyed spending time with the priest, and while peaceful things didn't really suit him much, he couldn't imagine not enjoying getting out of the school and just enjoying the cool weather with the older man.

At the mention of Xellos and 'obnoxious', Cesare couldn't help the small, amused sound that left his mouth. ".. That's one way of putting it, yes," he agreed with a delicate laugh. "He's.. polite enough, really, but I know he's doing the annoying bits on purpose. Unfortunately, there's not a great deal that I can do about it-- especially not the way I am at the moment."

Tote's okies ♥

[13sugars]

"You do. You're both going to work yourselves to death here." He started spooning sugar into his own cup now, smiling a little at that comment. "She's wonderfully kind, with a soft heart and a willingness to understand that you'd only see in children. It's hard to believe she used to be so small and fragile before too. She's grown up so much since I've met her." She had to, considering the things that have happened here. What else could she do but age faster and grow stronger? Abel sounded less like a good friend and more like a doting father...

Abel looked obviously pleased with this. No excuses or attempts to say he was too busy. After all, all of this here was busywork, he was sure. Cesare had said it himself. Just to keep himself occupied. Abel, quite frankly, wouldn't have let him make those excuses, and probably would have happily dragged the young man outside for a walk whether he wanted it or not. "Then I'd be happy to go walking with you tomorrow, if you don't mind it..."

He stopped scooping... Eventually. At thirteen spoonfuls of sugar left the concoction almost more flavoring than tea, he may as well of just eaten the sugar bowl. Not that Abel either noticed or probably cared, simply taking a sip from the thick drink. "I guess telling him to go away doesn't really work, does it?" Well, from the sounds of it.... "I... I'd offer to let you share my room, but there's only one bed, and my brother occupies that most of the time."

♥!

[hispoisonsmile]

Ignoring the part about working himself to death--if he didn't, he'd probably laugh, and then he'd have to explain why he found that so funny--Cesare instead stirred a spoonful of sugar into his own tea. His eyes followed the motions of the other man's hand in amusement as thirteen spoonfuls of sugar was stirred into his own cup. .. Wasn't that enough to make it syrup?

"Tomorrow is fine," he agreed with another smile, ducking his head slightly over his cup to hide his amusement. Abel really did like his sweets, didn't he? It was strangely.. cute. He could hardly believe that he was thinking something like that, but there it was. "I need to return some books to the library, anyway, so I can do that in the process."

At the mention of sharing Abel's room, Cesare knew with absolute certainty that he was going to Hell-- because the first thing that came to mind was by no means fit for polite conversation, and the second thing was how best to use that to tease Abel about it. "Why, Abel," he settled on, lifting his head to flutter his lashes coquettishly at the silver-haired man, "sharing a room? Possibly sharing a bed--? You really are trying to seduce me." This mention of his brother, though-- while he knew that Abel had one from the memories he'd seen, he hadn't known that Cain was present in Discedo. He'd never seen him. Disturbing news. But.. if he lived with Abel, did that mean that the brothers had reunited? Hm.

[13sugars]

Oh yes it was, the tea was as thick as it could be without turning into pudding, and Abel seemed to be enjoying it just fine. Most would gag at the introduction of so much sugar. Well... he was used to it by now, that was how he always took his tea. So far no one seemed to oppose that, why would it matter now?

"Wonderful. I'll try not to wake you up too early, I don't want to drag you all over the place half asleep and grumpy. That wouldn't make for very good conversation, would it?" He set the tea down, absently licking the stray bits of sugar that had landed on his finger off. "Are any of the books here similar to those at home? I'm afraid I haven't gotten around to reading too many of them. A friend of mine went out once and picked out a few but... well, his pessimistic nature carried over to the books he chose."

Abel didn't seem to notice it. Well, until Cesare went and brought it up of course, the priest had been obliviously enjoying his drink until the man went and started on that note. Oh he nearly spat out what he'd just drank! Instead, sputtering, coughing, quickly putting his cup down and the immediate construction of explanations. "I wouldn't have made you share the bed! Really! What I meant... There's a floor you know! I'd have taken the floor or... the chair in the room! I didn't mean it like that! And you know it!" All flustered and pink again. As for Cain... where else would his brother go? He couldn't trust him in the hospital, so often just left alone. And what with this place being what it was, killing him was out as well. What.... better prison for the man that wished to destroy everything than a bed in the middle of nowhere, confined to it without respite? Abel wasn't about to let him get that chip out.

[hispoisonsmile]

Oh, sorry, Abel-- were you hoping that Cesare would be letting this go? You poor, naive man. It wasn't every day that someone walked right into their own (incidental) trap like that, so he was planning to make the most of it. Too bad he didn't have a fan to hide his expression, because he really did for a moment look like the cat who'd got the cream, caught the mouse, and gotten a nice ear-rub for it.

"Now what makes you think I would have let you take the floor?" he wondered, mock-flirtatious and trying not to look as amused as he felt. "After all, Abel, you're the one offering your room to me." A slightly woeful expression. "It's true that the bed is small.. We'd have to lie quite closely together." A pause as he let that sink in, taking a sip of his tea, before he finally stopped controlling his expression. The smile that spread across his lips was one twitch away from laughter, and he shook his head, setting his tea down on the desk. "You really are too easy to tease, my dear." And he had such amazingly exaggerated reactions, as well-- while Chiaro would only glare and fluster a bit, Abel would downright drop things and panic. Going a little out of his way to find ways to tease him was so worth it.

[13sugars]

Heaven help the man that was really as oblivious as Abel acted. Oh he was aware that he was being teased. Some of that overreaction was very, very real, most of it was in fact. He had simply magnified it. Why? ... Well because frankly no he didn't mean it that way and what if he actually was taking it seriously? He didn't want the man thinking... Oh dear no, he'd never take advantage like that! But Abel saw that expression nonetheless. Thank heavens Cesare didn't have a fan.

"N-no! Cut it out, you know it's not like that at all!" The priest looked like a poor befuddled dove, most surely ruffled up enough. The insinuation that it all came to a head at just prompted a groan that was a cross between frustrated and embarrassed. "It's not my fault! I don't read into things like you do, give me a break!" Really, for a Cardinal, the man was excellent at pointing out how Abels words could be appropriately twisted. He almost reminded him of another one of the esteemed Cardinals at church. More charm and more tact though. "I-it was only a suggestion. I could bring a separate bed in for you if you ever needed another place to stay."

[hispoisonsmile]

"Oh, Abel, don't be like that," Cesare cooed with a laugh, reaching out to pat his knee gently. "I only tease because you get so flustered. It's sweet." The smile faded into something a little more delicate, as if one wrong word could shatter it. "I promise that I have no designs on your virtue." Everything seemed to come back to Chiaro-- but he had been an excellent lesson to learn. No, no, he knew better than to indulge in such frivolous things. Besides, he certainly had enough to concern himself about with Sancia's desires, didn't he? Keeping her mouth shut and giving her what she wanted.

For a moment more, he was quiet, but then the smile brightened again, warm and affectionate. "Thank you, my dear, but I'll be fine." It was enough that Abel knew about his fits-- the last thing he wanted was to have the man witness one in person. "Xellos is bothersome, but my pride won't let me run away, really." Besides-- demons he could handle. Some better than others, certainly, but it wasn't as if he hadn't dealt with worse. The creature that had stolen Vannozza's body.. That one hurt him much worse than Xellos had thus far.

He curled fingers in the end of the silver ponytail he seemed to like so much, tugging once gently and smiling. "Will you forgive me? Come-- let's drink our tea, and I'll play nicely, I promise."

[13sugars]

He settled rather quickly, though the man still looked thoroughly ruffled. The flustered blush told all, though the smile that was overtaking his face spoke more of good humor than bashfulness. "I... I didn't think you would, I just... well, I don't want you thinking that I'd ever..." Ever take advantage or try to get such things from the man. Such a thought never even crossed his mind... Which probably explained why he spoke so freely of such compromising situations, he wasn't thinking. Well, think about that.

"If you're sure about that... I don't want to force you. I mean, pride is wonderful to have and it's nice to have plenty of it, but if it gets in the way of your happiness and well being, it wouldn't hurt to siphon some of that off." Heaven knew Abel knew that. "Just be careful, alright? I mean it when I say that my home is open to you if you ever need it. All you have to do is come in."

There was only a small surprised noise as his hair was tugged upon, before he laughed sheepishly, fixing the black ribbon that held it in place. "You're forgiven, naturally. And as long as you promise, I'll believe you."

[hispoisonsmile]

"I know that you're not interested in that sort of thing," he said with a slight tilt of his head to the side, releasing the silver hair. "Besides, you're a priest, and unlike my very secular self, you actually seem to try to live a life He would approve of." He waved a hand in the air as if to encompass the whole messy world of religion, holding up a finger, then, to indicate himself with it. "Whereas I don't believe it's a secret between the two of us, any longer, that I use the Pope and the Holy See to my own ends." His father had truly created a monster by offering Cesare up to the Darkness-- now he was only a puppet in his son's hands. A fitting fate for a greedy, shallow-hearted man.

He picked his tea back up, then, cupping it between his hands again and glancing down in the liquid. Abel was so.. kind. How many people had taken advantage of that kindness? And.. one day, would Cesare himself betray the man? Considering his nature, he wouldn't be surprised. He just hoped the priest would keep his words and warning in mind.

"Thank you," he murmured after a moment, and lifted his head again to smile softly. "That means a great deal to me. I assure you that I'll be fine, though. I think he and I understand one another very well. --He will use me, and I will certainly find a way to use him." After all, how much more damned could he possibly be? Consorting with a demon seemed a small sin compared to the ones he'd already committed.

[13sugars]

Abels expression faded a bit as Cesare used such words to describe himself. Now, ever still, he couldn't believe the man as he told him how terrible he really was. Not from what he had seen, had continued to see. Not from how the man acted around him and towards others, unless this truly was an amazing act. He'd given him warnings, how terrible could he truly be in the end if he cared enough to tell Abel all of this? "So you keep telling me."

He'd remember it anyway, how could he not? Cesare had made it quite clear, if not imperative that he keep all of this in mind, and the priest didn't slack with it at all, making notes of everything he was told.

"I'd rather you just try and find a way to get rid of him, instead of trying to outsmart him or live with him. Or at least try to ignore him or something. I don't want you taking this too far, alright?"