(Untitled)

[will_you_see]

It had been nearly a month since the weekend that Alcuin had spent with Giles in Terre d'Ange - or rather, thinking they were in Terre d'Ange, as completely incomprehensible as that was. And though there was nothing overtly wrong in their relationship, it was clear that things were different. Strained, somehow. Not the least of which being the

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[theunascended]

"Easy," Daniel said softly, moving quickly to get some towels to wipe the liquid up. One was thrown on the forming puddle on the floor, one was placed on the table, and the third was offered to Alcuin. "It's just me." He offered Alcuin a soft smile.

[will_you_see]

Alcuin immediately felt foolish for being so jumpy, and he wiped at the wet spot on his trousers with the towel as he offered Daniel a weak smile. "Thank you," he said. "I'm not normally so clumsy."

[theunascended]

"No, you're not," Daniel replied softly. "And I suspect it's rather redundant to ask if everything's all right." It clearly wasn't. "But I can offer you another cup of tea if you'd like one." Maybe Alcuin would take the chance to tell Daniel what was going on.

[will_you_see]

Alcuin nodded. "Please. I suppose I should wait for my trousers to dry before venturing out anyway..." He sat back down at the table, laying the towel gingerly in his lap.

[theunascended]

Daniel set about making another cup of tea for Alcuin - and one for himself as well - staying quiet to see if Alcuin felt like talking. If not, there were a few questions he could ask that would gently prod him in the right direction, but he wanted to wait a little while before going that route.

[will_you_see]

Alcuin was quiet for a long moment, fiddling with the edge of the towel idly, and then finally said, "I suppose you're waiting for me to tell you what's wrong."

[theunascended]

"Actually, I'm waiting to find out if you're going to tell me, if I'm going to have to pry, or whether it's neither and I'm just staying here playing manservant and providing company." Daniel put Alcuin's old cup in the sink and brought out two fresh ones, complete with saucers.

[will_you_see]

Alcuin realized that he hadn't really seen much of Daniel since that weekend. Of course, he hadn't really seen much of anyone, as he'd been keeping to himself a bit more than usual, and spending as much time as possible with Giles as well.

"Is it really that obvious?" he sighed.

[theunascended]

"You are one of the most graceful people I know," Daniel pointed out. "Something had you spooked and unless I have baby puke on me somewhere, I don't think it's me. Do you want to tell me? It might help, but you don't have to."

[will_you_see]

Alcuin hesitated, because in truth, he'd been thinking that perhaps it would help for him to talk through his feelings with someone who wasn't Giles. But then, on the other hand... he wasn't sure that he wanted anyone to know. At least, not anyone that he cared about, like Daniel.

"I'm... not sure," he finally admitted truthfully.

[theunascended]

Daniel nodded slowly and then offered, "I promise not to judge. Just listen." He leaned in, kissed Alcuin softly on the lips and then wandered to go get the screaming teapot. He wasn't in any place to judge, anyway. Not with some of the things he'd done.

[will_you_see]

Alcuin trusted him, and he also knew that, besides Phedre and Giles, Daniel was the closest confidante he had here. If he was to speak to anyone about what had happened to him...

"A few weeks ago," he began, taking in a breath, "Rupert and I woke up in Terre d'Ange."

[theunascended]

Daniel poured them both cups of tea and nodded. "I knew that was going around again." He was just thankful that he didn't go through it again. "I'm going to guess things didn't go smoothly?"

[will_you_see]

Alcuin swallowed hard and looked down at his hands. "No... no, it did not go well. One of the people behind Anafiel and my..." He waved a hand weakly. "She found out I was alive. And she knew exactly which buttons to push to lure me straight into a trap."

[theunascended]

Daniel sucked in a breath through his teeth. The word 'trap' was never a good thing. Especially when it had Alcuin looking like this. "How bad was it?" he asked softly, taking hold of the hand waving in the air.

[will_you_see]

Alcuin only looked up at him because Daniel had taken his hand. "It could have been so much worse," he said. But realizing that that wasn't really an answer, he said, "Rupert insisted on going with me. And Melisande... she made him watch as she tried to humiliate me."

He paused, and then added, "Which I suppose was fortunate, as he jumped in in time to keep her from killing me."