Log [it takes two]

[blondeisforte]

Title: Preoccupying the Mind
Characters: Il Forte, Tesla
Locale: The corridor outside of Tousen's group therapy room
Timeframe: After therapy, afternoonish.
What: First meetings are awesome.
Rating/Warning: PG-13. It gives us something to shoot for. xD

As always, he was the first one out.

His lean torso was sleek against the corridor's wall, mouth hinting

Comments

[teslasir]

He had been so close.

Noitra had been right there -- so close, Tesla could have reached out and touched him -- but he'd been removed so quickly he hadn't been able to even say a word.

It hurt, sometimes. Most of the time, even. To know he was in the same room as the person he would do anything for, and yet couldn't even speak to him in private.

Tesla missed Noitra in every way possible, and although many things were very nice at this place, none of it made up for the horrible depression he felt when he was isolated from the person he would die to serve.

He walked out alone, unescorted, wide eyes downcast. He didn't even notice Il Forte, leaning against the wall, until he'd nearly tripped over the other male's foot.

"Hello," Tesla said, forcing a polite smile on his face. "Terribly sorry to have almost tripped over you -- I was hardly looking at where I was going."

[blondeisforte]

He smiled as warmly as possible, arms uncrossing and back off the wall as he straightened up, shaking his head at Tesla's apology.

"No worries, brother. I understand."

Eyes flickered up to the attendants rounding the corner, and his face fell. "I couldn't help but notice..." he began, then stopped. "Ah, it's none of my business, brother. But I am sorry for your...current situation." The tone was sincere enough. It wasn't as if he was going to be mean about it. Some people in here deserved genuine pity, and others did not. But he wasn't letting the sob story ruin his goals. Not in the least.

Pale fingers toyed with dusty blonde hair, and he let his eyes wander for a few seconds before turning back to the patient in front of him. "So...Brother Tesla, was it? Would you like to walk in the gardens?" It was a harmless suggestion, and he was only trying to usurp the thoughts of the dark-haired man in Tesla's mind. Desire would do the rest.

[teslasir]

Ah. It was that Il Forte fellow. He'd seemed good-natured, Tesla remembered, and pushed all thoughts of Noitra from his mind. Right now was not the time to appear upset.

But alas, Il Forte had already seemed to notice. "Oh, you needn't be, sir," Tesla replied with a faint smile. "Though I thank you for your concern."

Tesla, as a person who had been raised in a family of servants and was technically Noitra's personal servant, had grown up thinking that he was subservient to everyone else. He had difficulty referring to people by their first names, unless they were of the same status as he was. However, Il Forte Grantz was certainly above him in status, and so Tesla referred to him politely as well.

"Ah, yes," he said, looking faintly surprised that the other male had remembered his name. "A walk in the gardens would be nice, thank you." It would help him clear his mind, at the very least, and he wouldn't mind spending time with someone new.

[blondeisforte]

"Sir?" He giggled slightly, fingers pressed to his lips to still the noise. "That's so old-sounding. Call me Il Forte, brother. I insist."

The subservient demeanor. The polite manners. Il Forte's interest in him grew with each passing word. He couldn't have planned it any better even if he had a chance to rewrite this encounter. He began to walk slowly, hands clasped behind his back as pale violet eyes looked back to see if Tesla would follow.

"The flowers are so pretty today, brother. I'm glad I have someone to share them with."

It was true, this statement. Misery loved company in every way, shape and form, and Il Forte grew lonely despite his cheery disposition. His hair swished back and forth across his back, and he flipped it over one shoulder and ran his fingers through it idily. A faint smile came to mind as the fragrant scent of the gardens spilled into the hall, drifting lazily towards him and envelloping him in their delicate embrace.

"Tell me...if you don't mind, upon what conditions do you find yourself in such a