Neil had been puttering about in the room, doing a little studying and also folding and putting away laundry -hey someone had to do it.
It was the sound of scurrying feet that caught his attention and with a blink the youngster was over by the door and scooping up the paper. Reading through the poem, it was impossible to mistake Todd's work, Neil's smile grew into a thing of love, beauty and excitement and he yanked open the door, nearly tripping over the coat and the flashlight in his haste.
Clues gathered, flashlight tucked into a hand, the lanky youth was tugging on the coat as he busted out into the open evening air. Eyeing the pawprint, he turned on the flashlight and began to look around for his next clue.
On the ground, there was another paw print, and several steps ahead, there was another. They seemed to be leading somewhere. Somewhere toward the woods, but there was a sound of rushing water in the vicinity. It seemed to be coming in the direction of some caves. Much bigger than the old Indian cave.
Neil carefully picked up each note as he tracked along, his grin growing wider as he got into the game and began to trot.
He would stop every so often just to look around, the fresh, crisp scent of the chilly night air filling his nostrils as he tracked his leonine lover.
As he came closer to the caves, however, he began to slow. They looked, so familiar to the ones from back home, only they were bigger and even in the dusk, incredibly beautiful.
Inside the cave, there was shimmering lights against the cave's ceiling from the pool of water nearby. There were candles, and a fire burning, the smoke directed toward a hole in the ceiling, where a few stars winked through the rising smoke. The smell of food was also obvious. There was also a lot of glitter on the rocks, and flowers around. Several pots of brightly colorful mums laid in a circle. There were some cushions laid near the fire to recline against. A large picnic basket was nearby as well, obviously the source of the food smell.
Neil stood at the mouth of the cave and simply took all the beauty in. It was simple, yet it spoke for the young man who had woven it together. The flowers, probably from the garden in which Todd work, the sweet smell of delicious food, some of which might have been picked by Todd's hand. The cushions and the fire, warmth and comfort...all Todd.
Sucking in a breath that might have been a little shuddery due to soft tears that were trying not to fall, Neil looked down at the note before looking around, hopefully, for his lover.
Not seeing Todd, Neil decided that the other boy had something crafty up his sleeve and he carried his little pascel of notes towards the cushions, shrugging out of his coat, he settled down and watched the softly flickering flames, so full of life and beautiful colors.
A crackle of electricity, and there was a voice behind Neil as glitter and flower petals fell gently on him.
"I am he that aches with amorous love; Does the earth gravitate? Does not all matter, aching, attract all matter? So the Body of me, to all I meet, or know." I Am He That Aches With Love by Walt Whitman
There is a kiss at his cheek.
Then more words are spoken. "Winter wings, raven wings, falcon wings. I watch you glide, and turn in joy. Watchful, I see you dance amidst the clouds. Graceful turning, never falling, you catch yourself in mid-air. I bid thee welcome, Muse, friend, lover. All."
O-kay...this was definitely something new and Neil caught his breath as he recognized his lover's voice. The glitter and the petals were given only a quick glance, a warm smile but his attention was focused all on Todd.
He didn't recognize the first poem but he certainly recognized the second as Todd's own words. They brought a shy blush...yes a shy blush...to his face and dark eyes were twinkling witht he softed expression of love and pure affection as they sought out his appearing love.
Reaching for Todd, when he sat down close, Neil leaned over to kiss him, a soft...grateful touch of his lips to Todd's and then he leaned back with a hushed.
Todd returned the kiss, his hand cupping Neil's cheek gently.
He leaned back as well, the reflection of the fire's flames making his tawny hair almost glow. There were hints of glitter on his face now as well.
"I love you. And tonight's important." He then went over to the basket, and starting get out the food. It looked to be slices of honey roasted ham, sweet potato mash with pecan butter, steamed vegetables, (a Vermont style soup)pumpkin-mushroom soup, and cheese and apple puffs for dessert. Also hot apple cider with a bit of rum to enjoy with the meal. He passed him a food laden dish with utensils, a bowl with some of the soup, and a cup of the cider.
Todd fixed himself some, and settled back to eat and relax. The cave floor was level enough to set dishes down without fear of spilling.
Well there was little chance that a statement like that wasn't going to make Neil curious but the lanky youth quickly cooled his jets as Todd drew away and began to unpack the savory smelling food. After all, they had the rest of the night together, to talk and to discover...and Todd had obviously gone to some lengths putting together this meal.
Neil was going to enjoy every minute of it.
Taking his soup and cider, he sniffed appreciatively at the rich pumpkin smell, dark eyes bright as they looked at Todd.
"This all smells wonderful, Todd. Thank you." Because he wasn't certain he'd remember to say so later.
Picking up his spoon he began to tuck into the food with the hungry appetite of an extremely active young man but also with the reverence of someone who is enjoying every bite, enjoying every moment.
In between mouthfuls, he did ask curiously.
"Where are we, exactly? I had my head down, following your trail and didn't pay much attention to where I was going."
Neil's eyes simply twinkled. Todd obviously hadn't heard Neil pipe up quite vocally about the fruits and vegetables, always taking the chance to explain that his lover picked them fresh each day.
He took another delicious mouthful, chewing thoughtfully on a well cooked mushroom before grinning.
"Is that what I heard coming here? A waterfall? Wow...you'll have to show me during one of our walks."
Funny how those walks had started out so simple and had grown, gently, into something the two of them did almost regularly to pass the time and reconnect after a busy day that might keep them seperate for most of the morning and afternoon.
Todd nodded, "It's nice. I often take my breaks near it, and just listen to the water." He put down the soup, and took a scoop of the sweet potatoes. Very delicious. And no, he hadn't heard of Neil singing his praises. But then Todd would extoll about his lover's acting, and his work on the paper.
They both seemed to have a habit of positively glowing when extolling the virtues of the other. Neil knew that his love for Todd reflected in his eyes and it was probably a good thing that they'd only met with support to this point.
"Leave it to you to find the things in life that make the best poetic paints."
That Todd had found a quiet, beautiful spot didn't surprise Neil in the least. Such beauty seemed to sing to his lover's heart.
Just as Todd's love for Neil glimmered brightly in his own blue eyes.
He just gave a little, knowing shrug at the comment.
"There's a lot of places around here for that. I told you this place is inspiring." He went back to his dinner thoughtfully. His gaze lifted to watch Neil often. Dinner first, and then before dessert. That was the plan right? There was a package at the bottom of the basket, patiently waiting.
There was a twitch in his long form, an indicator that Neil was about to jump into the breech and insist that Todd see what he himself brought to this place, that if this place was inspiring, it was because Todd looked around, took it into his heart and made it so...but Neil bit the words back.
They would only crowd Todd in that manner that often resulted in the other boy pushing back to give himself some space.
Instead, the young actor went back to the delicious meal, his trim stomach making hungry growly noises as he attacked the mashed sweet potatos, making a little ham and potato sandwich.
As he ate, he watched Todd, noting the way blue eyes seemed to be turned inwards, chewing on something, a subtle tension running through his lover's body.
It was the sound of scurrying feet that caught his attention and with a blink the youngster was over by the door and scooping up the paper. Reading through the poem, it was impossible to mistake Todd's work, Neil's smile grew into a thing of love, beauty and excitement and he yanked open the door, nearly tripping over the coat and the flashlight in his haste.
Clues gathered, flashlight tucked into a hand, the lanky youth was tugging on the coat as he busted out into the open evening air. Eyeing the pawprint, he turned on the flashlight and began to look around for his next clue.
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He would stop every so often just to look around, the fresh, crisp scent of the chilly night air filling his nostrils as he tracked his leonine lover.
As he came closer to the caves, however, he began to slow. They looked, so familiar to the ones from back home, only they were bigger and even in the dusk, incredibly beautiful.
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There was no sign of Todd just yet.
A single note, saying, "Wait."
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Sucking in a breath that might have been a little shuddery due to soft tears that were trying not to fall, Neil looked down at the note before looking around, hopefully, for his lover.
Not seeing Todd, Neil decided that the other boy had something crafty up his sleeve and he carried his little pascel of notes towards the cushions, shrugging out of his coat, he settled down and watched the softly flickering flames, so full of life and beautiful colors.
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"I am he that aches with amorous love;
Does the earth gravitate?
Does not all matter, aching, attract all matter?
So the Body of me, to all I meet, or know."
I Am He That Aches With Love by Walt Whitman
There is a kiss at his cheek.
Then more words are spoken.
"Winter wings, raven wings, falcon wings.
I watch you glide, and turn in joy.
Watchful, I see you dance amidst the clouds.
Graceful turning, never falling,
you catch yourself in mid-air.
I bid thee welcome, Muse, friend, lover. All."
Then Todd came around, and sat down by him.
He then simply smiled, "Hi."
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He didn't recognize the first poem but he certainly recognized the second as Todd's own words. They brought a shy blush...yes a shy blush...to his face and dark eyes were twinkling witht he softed expression of love and pure affection as they sought out his appearing love.
Reaching for Todd, when he sat down close, Neil leaned over to kiss him, a soft...grateful touch of his lips to Todd's and then he leaned back with a hushed.
"You...undo me, Beautiful Boy."
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He leaned back as well, the reflection of the fire's flames making his tawny hair almost glow. There were hints of glitter on his face now as well.
"I love you. And tonight's important." He then went over to the basket, and starting get out the food. It looked to be slices of honey roasted ham, sweet potato mash with pecan butter, steamed vegetables, (a Vermont style soup)pumpkin-mushroom soup, and cheese and apple puffs for dessert. Also hot apple cider with a bit of rum to enjoy with the meal. He passed him a food laden dish with utensils, a bowl with some of the soup, and a cup of the cider.
Todd fixed himself some, and settled back to eat and relax. The cave floor was level enough to set dishes down without fear of spilling.
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Neil was going to enjoy every minute of it.
Taking his soup and cider, he sniffed appreciatively at the rich pumpkin smell, dark eyes bright as they looked at Todd.
"This all smells wonderful, Todd. Thank you." Because he wasn't certain he'd remember to say so later.
Picking up his spoon he began to tuck into the food with the hungry appetite of an extremely active young man but also with the reverence of someone who is enjoying every bite, enjoying every moment.
In between mouthfuls, he did ask curiously.
"Where are we, exactly? I had my head down, following your trail and didn't pay much attention to where I was going."
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Todd spooned some of the soup, blowing gently on the pumpkin mixture to cool it before eating.
After swallowing he replied, "Near the gardens. Turns out there's a series of caverns back here. And a waterfall even."
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He took another delicious mouthful, chewing thoughtfully on a well cooked mushroom before grinning.
"Is that what I heard coming here? A waterfall? Wow...you'll have to show me during one of our walks."
Funny how those walks had started out so simple and had grown, gently, into something the two of them did almost regularly to pass the time and reconnect after a busy day that might keep them seperate for most of the morning and afternoon.
Reply
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"Leave it to you to find the things in life that make the best poetic paints."
That Todd had found a quiet, beautiful spot didn't surprise Neil in the least. Such beauty seemed to sing to his lover's heart.
Reply
He just gave a little, knowing shrug at the comment.
"There's a lot of places around here for that. I told you this place is inspiring." He went back to his dinner thoughtfully. His gaze lifted to watch Neil often. Dinner first, and then before dessert. That was the plan right? There was a package at the bottom of the basket, patiently waiting.
Reply
They would only crowd Todd in that manner that often resulted in the other boy pushing back to give himself some space.
Instead, the young actor went back to the delicious meal, his trim stomach making hungry growly noises as he attacked the mashed sweet potatos, making a little ham and potato sandwich.
As he ate, he watched Todd, noting the way blue eyes seemed to be turned inwards, chewing on something, a subtle tension running through his lover's body.
"Hey...everything okay?"
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"What? Oh, I'm fine, Neil. Just enjoying the dinner." His eyes dart toward the basket briefly. Not yet, not yet. Just wait.
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