: Saintsmourn - Nicholas & Patrick :

[dangernerd]

Nicholas Kirkland (Nicky to those who he considered friends) was at this moment finishing up the last of his reading for his college classes. In the little dorm-room that himself and Patrick shared, it was a muddle of books and random objects that they'd collected. Not only that but also bits and bobs of their friendship tied into neat little nostalgic notes.

The last rays of the sun was streaming in through the window and he was poised, feet crossed on desk and balancing barely on the back two legs-- precarious yes, and honestly he knew that he should not really be doing this. Coordination be damned, he'd never worried about it before despite the bumps and bruises he regularly got because he was perennially distracted.

It was almost time for Patrick to come home from his late evening classes and then they'd start their foraging for dinner.

After that, well the evening was still young and there was trouble to be had. All of which he looked forward to, after all Patrick had for as long as he remembered, been his favorite partner in crime.. they had grown up together and they had a special bond.

As close as brothers, except not quite-- and honestly? Nicholas was glad for that.

Comments

[giveeverything]

Napping could definitely happen. Trick would enjoy that very very much, thank you. He slipped his arm around Nicky in turn, leaning into him. "Oh? Feeling a bit foggy on things, Baby? Guess I'll have to remind you tomorrow morning."

He snorted at the mention of his brother. "Yeah well, we caught him hiding in a priest's closet in his boxers, he doesn't get to talk." Because really, now Trick had the knowledge in his head that his brother was sleeping with Father Walsh.

Speaking of sleeping though. "So, important question. Big spoon or little spoon?"

--

There was that warmth in his chest again. Riley was going to be his undoing, and he hadn't seen it coming. How had one of his lowest moments in a confessional booth, and then the ill-advised blatant flirting that had followed and all the mess thereafter, how had it brought him here?

"Kirkland is... something else. You should meet his sister. She's a terror." Like an actual nightmare. Men cowered in her wake.

He fell quiet for a moment, and when he spoke again, his voice was softer. "You should be more careful, you know. At this rate, if I actually live to see the end of this mess..." unlikely as that seemed, "I'm going to want to marry you."

[dangernerd]

This was absolutely important question that begged to be answered, the big spoon or little spoon was not something that they had ever explored given that most sleepovers had not been a sharing a bed affair (though Nicky had imagined what would've happened if he had slipped into Trick's bed, his imagination was robust and helpfully supplied many a scenario.

"Big spoon.. but I am open to little one too case may be.

Let him be your backpack, Trick. Although he would enjoy the morning grinding no matter what form it took. "Do you have a preference?"

--

Riley looked at Liam and his heart softened, those grey eyes like a warm heather grey sweater worn on the coldest of days, a reminder of coziness. And then he slipped his arms around that waist because he could not imagine a life without the other man.

"You realize that you have ruined me for the church, I am unsure if I can go back to who I was before you. And I do not want to." He wanted that, you know-- wanted a home and a cat, a dog and maybe children.

"But we will both survive this, or we both will not."

[giveeverything]

"You know me, baby. I'm a knife."

He said this with a straight face even. Clearly the big tough supernatural investigating jock right here. A moment to let that settle in and he added, "But for you, little spoon. I really like the thought of your arms around me. But I'm versatile, so long as you're close." Oh god he was getting sappy. Immediately ruining the knife allegations. But he couldn't help it. He loved his boyfriend.

And had loved him for lifetimes before apparently. That one deserved some closer thinking. Later.

--

Liam wanted to wrap himself in the warmth he could see in those eyes, like a blanket on a rainy day. Everything about Riley called to him like the siren song of warmth and safety and home, none of which were things he'd ever believed he could have. Hell he still had trouble believing that he deserved this.

But those arms around him made it harder and harder to let those thoughts win. Deserving or not, he had it, he had this handsome, brave, tender man. "I didn't mean to steal you from your calling..." he murmured quietly, stepping in that much closer, until he could let his forehead rest against Riley's, voice a low secret for the two of them to share and no one else. "I'd ask your forgiveness, but I'm not sorry, even if I should be." And one couldn't be forgiven for a sin that one couldn't properly repent for.

"I won't let anything happen to you." That was a promise, and inside that promise a clear argument to Riley's pronouncement about their sharing the same fate either way.

[dangernerd]

"Are you going to knife and fork me?"

There was that charming smile even as he lightly bunted himself against the other guy, like an affectionate cat would; if he had a tail, it would've been wrapped against Trick's thigh so that the other man would not be allowed to escape from. "Because I totally would let you." and then a hum before yawning, his head hitting that shoulder because he was tired though. "After sleep though, I just want to curl up behind you and sleep.. I am so tired."

It evidentially took a lot out of a healthy red-blooded man to be infiltrated by a sex-hungry incubus? "If you're not tired, I can sleep maybe tucked up against you as you play on your phone?"

--

Riley looked a bit sheepishly himself, especially in regards to Liam's own confession and also the chagrin from what was percieved to be a bad. "So I chose the church because I did not have any true interest in sex or even, I guess love. I had boyfriends but they were not, well they were just to have them and it was always more friendship than anything else. When I chose it was because I thought that I could live without things like that but.." he lifted his chin up and pulled Liam close.

"I guess I had not met the right man, and I am willing to forgo my calling for love.. if I find it."

That was said solemnly, and he knew it was love. Knew that he wanted to build a life with Liam right here and now.

[giveeverything]

"Knife, fork, spoon, if I can figure out a way to make ladle or whisk sound sexy, those too."

His arm tightened around Nicky's waist in a brief one armed embrace. "Baby, I went from a virgin to a sudden rush of sex in like twenty four hours and topped it all off watching my brother pull a demon out of my boyfriend and eat it for breakfast. I could sleep for a week."

Though he would need Nicky nearby for that sleep to be at all peaceful after how worried he'd been over him. He pressed a kiss to Nicky's head through his hair, his free hand pulling his keys from his pocket to open up the door to their room as they arrived.

--

Did Riley realize what that did to Liam, to be told that Riley was choosing him, that Riley loved him enough to choose him over the priesthood? Because it shook something horrifically broken in him down to its foundations and built it back up, mended and whole, and it made him want to survive all this more than he ever had.

For a long time he'd believed the only way this would end was with his death, and he was starting to almost wish for that. Now he wanted to live, wanted to break free of it all and take Gregory out and have an actual life. With Riley.

He sank into Riley's arms. He knew it was love too, down to the deepest core of his soul. A tilt of his chin and he brushed his lips against Riley's in a light whisper-soft touch. "I love you."

[dangernerd]

"That was pretty cool." Nicholas agreed, because of course he did. He thought it was exceedingly cool to eat a demon for breakfast. It had been on a list of things he never knew he needed to see and he was forever changed by it. "Pretty useful skill to have."

But then as Trick started to fumble with the lock, he pressed a kiss to the neck. A soft tribute, the scratch of scruff proving that it had not been a dream. "You could make anything sound sexy you know, because you are so sexy that it hurts-- and I want to have a date with you, not the usual breakfast morning but something you know well romantic."

Though Nicky could probably make pancakes romantic if he tried hard enough.

--

"I love you too, there is no room in my heart to feel this way for anyone but you." it was almost like the spot had been waiting for him, a not yet-- not now, until finally he'd met Liam, gotten to know him and then that little voice saying 'this! this is him' in such a poignant way.

"Also I am glad you and your brother are back on terms again, I know this was not how you wanted it to be but the right time rarely is planned." truth if ever there was one.

[giveeverything]

"We were lucky he had it." Really. Trick had not expected to run into his brother in the priest's room -- still wrapping his head around that one -- but the fact that Liam had been able to drag the entity out of Riley had been a surprising stroke of luck. And now, somehow, he had his brother back, which was a confusing mix of emotions. He felt guilty for all the terrible conclusions that he'd jumped to, guiltier still that it had been all for his sake. But he was also still pissed at how stupid Liam was. And relieved and happy and determined to kick this Gregory's ass.

Luckily he had the world's best distraction from confusing things like feelings in the form of Nicholas Kirkland kissing at his neck.

A laugh as he managed to get the door open and usher them both inside. "Oh we're definitely having a date. I mean, we're gonna have lots of dates, but we're gonna have a super romantic first date, even if Liam and Father Walsh think they have us on lockdown."

--

Those were the sweetest words that he had ever heard spoken to him, and he would never get tired of hearing them from that beautiful, warm voice -- the thing that had caught his attention and drawn him to the priest from their first meeting. Riley had been nothing but that gentle voice and the kindness in it, and already something in Liam had known that could not be the only time he heard it.

"I am too. I was afraid he'd..." Well, he'd had so many scenarios of how it would hurt Trick to know, or how he'd hate him even more or, well, to sum it up, "I was afraid." He'd been afraid for a very long time.

"Those two are only going to behave so long though. They're tired which might buy us a day or two, but they'll try taking things into their own hands soon." So Liam had to act sooner rather than later.

[dangernerd]

Did they listen? Well they would listen to the rough estimate of the law in that they would go out but it was incentive to make those communicators which would be his project. If they had their communicators then they could go wherever the fuck they wanted, right? That was just science, a form of communication that would hold the tin-can line.

Walking into their room which was cozy, and with the view of Jella curled up on the bed waiting for them, likely keeping the bed warm for the both of them, Nicky was already pulling off Trick's hoodie and tossing it off to the side so that it landed right against the loveseat that they had magically for all of the past couple of years managed to keep a distance from each other on it, that would change however.

"Hey Jella, you and Trick are gonna have to work out which side of me you each want to lay against."

Jella let out a huff that was audible. An, 'I knew this day was coming' in kitty speak.

--

"Yeah, they will." Riley had been in Saintsmourn enough to recognize when they snuck in and out of their windows from late night whatever it was they were doing. The two of them were absolutely trouble and a handful and he did not want to imagine what would happen if Gregory got a hold of them.

They were technically pawns now.

This bore a little bit of thinking. Surely there was something that he could do in order to assure their safety, for Liam.

"That means when have a few days, that is enough time. Would you like to get dressed, get breakfast and then do a bit of brainstorming at the Saintsmourn library? I can get into the restricted section-- legally."

[giveeverything]

Totally. There were always ways to obey the vague shape of the law while getting away with way more than they probably ought to be able to. Besides, they were both adults despite what Liam and Riley seemed to believe.

As Nicky announced the state of things to Jella, Patrick looked over at the cat, pointing two fingers at his eyes and then at his little feline rival for Nicky's attention. It's on now, kitty cat.

He kicked off his shoes, paused for a moment before deciding why stop there? Out of his jeans next and his sweater, leaving him in a t-shirt and his boxer briefs. May as well be comfy if they were going to crawl into bed and nap.

--

"Sounds romantic and a little forbidden. I'm in." Liam's smile was playful, and lighter than perhaps any that Riley had seen on his face. Somehow he looked brighter, as if some of the shadows that darkened his already dark cocoa eyes had been sent scattering by the return of the sun after a night that had finally yielded to the dawn.

He reluctantly disengaged from the other man and set about trying to put together something to wear from a combination of his clothes and Riley's. Sorry, Father, he was helping himself. He'd at least stay away from the priest collars.

"You know, we could kill two birds with one scone..." See what he did there? "If we hit the Tea Bog for breakfast. Chat up the local fey contingent over breakfast?"

[dangernerd]

It was clear that Jella was going to claim her space first, with an 'I was here first' not in terms of knowing Nicky, but in terms of sleeping with him. And so she got up and slinked over toward where the bed bordered the wall, if anyone was going to get potentially knocked off the bed.

It would be Trick.

If Nicky was not quite so tired, that would be a definite invitation. Instead he threw himself onto the bed just shy of Jella (whomst bounced a bit) and then he spread his arms out wide. "There is enough for the both of you."

--

Riley looked at Liam for a moment, because he had caught it but it did not sink in as quickly. Then he picked up a pillow and walloped the other guy with it in one fell swoop. "That was terrible, Liam. You should be ashamed of yourself."

Read: Riley enjoyed the joke.

"That is an idea though, I could use a bearclaw. The past 12 hours have worked up quite an appetite for me." what with the sex and then also the having to handle the impromptu visit from Liam's family.

[giveeverything]

Trick would put his money on Jella too, in the contest between them. But he could live with being bested by the feline phenom, he supposed, especially when Nicky looked at him that way, arms open and inviting. Yup, that was where he was going, right there into those arms.

Where he belonged.

Now he'd talked about spooning, and they'd get around to that, but he settled in facing Nicky for now, his hand coming to settle atop the other man's hip. "Hi, Baby."

--

Liam took a pillow straight to the face, but the smile on his face looked no less smug despite it. It was an incredible pun, clearly, to have earned that reaction from Riley. "I should be, and yet here I am. No shame to be found."

Ah well. He was an unrepentant punner.

It had been a very eventful twelve hours. What with the sex. And then yeah, whatever the hell this morning was. "Bearclaw and coffee is my treat. Just like our first date." That wasn't a date, Liam.

[dangernerd]

In the most suave way that he could muster, he spoke the following with a grin on his lips and a sparkle to those sky blue eyes, "Hey..." turning his head then so that he could look right at Trick with a come hither and let's sleep together smile.

Meanwhile Jella was peering over Nicky's chest and monitoring this development. Just her eyes though, all that Trick would be able to see was those eyes as she regarded her 'nemesis' with that 'I'm watching you so no funny business' look. She had let last night and whatever that was slide.

--

Riley knew it was not their first date but he was not going to say anything. Instead he was going for his jacket which he pulled on over his sweater, following it up with a scarf which he wound around his shoulders so that it would keep his neck warm.

"You have yourself a deal, Mr. Leary."

Maybe one day he would be Mr. Leary.. who could say.

[giveeverything]

Not fair that Nicky could look at him that way, and Trick had absolutely no defense against it, falling straight into those baby blues. Nicky would be the death of him for certain. He leaned in to kiss that smile, a soft, tender thing.

And he tried his best to ignore the judgmental eyes of the lady of the house watching him over the other side of his boyfriend. Look there would be so much funny business in the coming days and weeks and months and years. These two were creative, imaginative men, after all, and they had lifetimes to make up for. "You are so pretty it's ridiculous."

--

Liam knew too, but it was easier to tease while his heart still reeled with everything that had happened this morning and the night before. His entire world had shifted, and now it rotated around an entirely new axis, orbited a brand new sun that shone with the exact golden warmth that he saw every time he looked at Riley.

So instead he grinned, did his best not to also think about Riley being Mr. Leary some day too, because boy did it flicker across his thoughts. Liam had always wanted a simple, domestic life. Someone he loved to share his home and his name and his bed. A fenced in yard with a dog and a cat. Kids. A fireplace for the chilly New England winters.

[dangernerd]

"Pretty?" there was a gasp as he watched the way that those beautiful eyes seemed to crinkle at the side. Yeah, he had a pretty healthy sex drive but he'd also taken pleasure in the day-to-day things, it was what had gotten through him many a rough day, it was what managed to coax him out of the dorm room and into the land of people (bleah), the fact that there was the other guy by his side. And now? He was his? He'd go to any countless number of gatherings and parties as long as he had the pleasure of holding that hand and letting the entire world know that Trick was his.

"As much as I want to disagree with your logic processes, that and I'm quite content being the nerdy awkward guy that you are going out with.." listen Nicky knew that his best friend was quite the catch. "..I will only raise an eyebrow at you like so." and then Nicky demonstrated, one brow raising quite artfully.

--

It took only a few moments to get dressed, and though he knew that he couldn't precisely take Liam's hand (he really wanted to), he contented himself with a reach to wrap a scrarf around Liam's neck. A symbol that no matter what, he would make sure that Liam was safe and warm.

That was something that would never change, even though he was not one who would plant himself all over Liam in public (would never push Liam away though) it would be in the small little gestures of care, making sure a scarf was straightened, making sure that the other guy did not leave without an umbrella or a jacket or anything else.

Get taken care of, loser.

"Shall we?"

[giveeverything]

Oh god Trick would without a shred of hesitation drag Nicky to some awful college party just so he could drunkenly make out in a corner with him. Actually, it was a very appealing plan and he would enjoy that party more than any other without even coming close. But that would have to wait. Right now he was here staring at the idiot in his arms who was entirely oblivious to his own level of attractiveness.

"Only an eyebrow raise? Too bad. My turn for a rebuttal, and I have a dissertation. Buckle up, Buttercup."

Look Nicky, Trick might be jock-shaped but he was also a big dumb nerd. He could and would tackle this debate-club style. "You have the most devastatingly beautiful blue eyes I have ever seen. Not even sky blue. They're blue like flame. They've taken my breath away since the first time I saw you even though I was, like, four, and didn't even knew that could happen and Mom was sorta worried I had asthma or something. And that's just your eyes. I think I could cut myself on those cheekbones if I'm not careful, and honestly I kinda want to try. And the stubble... you scruff up so good, Baby."

Nicholas Kirkland would gain self esteem even if Patrick had to beat him over the head with it.

--

Liam knew that he would have to keep his hands to himself in public. He would not do anything to get Riley into any difficult situations. The last thing he wanted to do was to ruin anything for him or cause any more problems than he'd already dropped into the blonde's lap.

Maybe someday they'd have the luxury of holding hands, of sitting side by side on that bench by the sea, with Liam's head tucked against Riley's shoulder.

For now, he found himself melting as the other man wrapped that scarf around his neck. Riley's scarf, smelled deliciously like Riley, and Liam would be keeping this. Until it lost that scent, and he would worm his way into borrowing another at that point. These were the evil plans of a man who'd sold his soul to a demon. Who let this idiot be a villain?

A little twitch of his hand at those words, and he slipped them into his pockets to stop any unsanctioned hand holding. "Let's go, Angel. Bearclaws aren't going to eat themselves."

And Fey Lords were sorely in need of new champions.

[dangernerd]

So they really were running this like College Debate Fight Club then?

He was being surreptitiously shut up, after all it was rude to interrupt and he would not dream of interrupting the other man especially when those very intense eyes looked into his own soul, oh yes-- there was the flutter in the heart that was thankfully (for now) not accompanied by the throb of the cock.

Give him a few moments to appreciate a few moments without an erection, this would probably last until naptime was over. "First of all, how dare you. Secondly and counter-point, says the man who looks like a fucking model and has on more than one occasion drawn my eye while you didn't think I was looking. Your habit of putting your foot on the coffee table to tie your shoes, and thereby bending over? That did not escape my notice the ten million times you've done so."

And then a clear of his throat. "Also, I remember the day when I felt sad.. the day when Liam said that you had died. I remember feeling like i would never feel warm again, and that is true.. if anything happened to you ever.. my world would be only half complete."

--

That would come in time, the hand holding and the walks. But for right now, the scarf would have to do-- and he made sure that it was secure as it wrapped around the shoulders, tucked in carefully and then a glance upward at the other man.

It was considering.

He leaned up then and brushed a kiss against the stubble of that cheek. The man who held far more honour than he himself gave credit for. "No they are not, and if I do not get a bearclaw soon.. no bearclaws shall be safe from my ravanous maws."

Which means that he could possibly steal Liams.

[giveeverything]

Sex was great, but did you ever stare longingly into the eyes you've been searching for in every lifetime? Trick was happy to settle into this moment that was all emotional connection, all quiet and intimate and theirs -- even if they were arguing and just shy of pulling out pre-prepared powerpoints with charts.

"First of all, how long have you known me? I always dare. Secondly, I did that on purpose because my ass is my best feature, so you fucking fell for it, nerd." Deal with that one Nicky. It was a slow and hopeless seduction, but a seduction nevertheless.

Then Nicky went and said that and Trick's expression turned serious. One hand lifted to settle against Nicky's cheek. "I know. It's the same way for me. There is no me without you. Together or not at all. So we both better die holding hands when we're one-hundred-and-nine."

--

The scarf was more than enough, a cocoon of warmth that would hold him quite well for the walk to the Tea Bog. And that kiss would keep him warmer still. He turned towards Riley, letting his lips brush along the other man's cheek in turn. "That's lust and gluttony, Father. Maybe I really am a bad influence."

Riley was, after all, coveting his boyfriend's bearclaw. Tsk tsk.

He smiled and moved for the door, pulling it open. "Just remember, Declan's a good guy, but he's not human." Different rules. Different notions of the way the world itself functioned.

[dangernerd]

"You know that's called 'premeditation' right? And I could sue you in court for 'attempted murder'." he said in a manner most matter-of-fact even though he also leaned into the way that he could feel the warmth of Trick's palm against his cheek, a contented sigh expelling alongside a breath. Yeah, he was definitely cat-coded especially when it came to Trick.

Though to make sure Jella did not feel left out, he did move his free hand back so that he could rest it on her purring form. Clearly, she took that as acceptable as she started to curl up and her laser eyes of death ceased to be as she initiated the morse code of kitty blinks.

"Let's try to make it to one-hundred and sixty-nine, yeah?" because he was super mature.

--

"You are a terrible influence." Riley said, though that sparkle to his eyes stated that he did not mind too much. "The road to hell is paved in Bearclaws and Dirty Chai Tea Lattes. That is what I was taught at the Seminary."

It was hard not to reach for Liam's hand to hold it, he desperately wanted to. Already his palm ached with the feeling of emptiness. "Arguably, both myself and your brother saw you eat a incubus like a spahgetti noodle, perhaps different rules is an understatement?" he locked his room and then started down the hallway, the both of them assaulted with the scent of lemon polish and 200 year old wood that marked Saintsmourn as a Relic of the Massachusetts coast.

"But I will make sure not to eat anything that he has specifically prepared, as the case may be."

[giveeverything]

"Joke's on you, Baby. You being litigious is totally a turn on. You can habeus my corpus any day." Clearly they were both incredibly mature. A match made in some strange, terrible corner of heaven.

He let his hand linger at Nicky's cheek, because yes. His boyfriend was part cat, and it was charming and endearing. And the fact that Jella had stopped actively plotting his demise for the moment was also a nice, warm feeling.

A snort at Nicky's sixty-nine joke, and he shook his head. "Sure, it's good to have goals."

--

"I totally remembers that from CCD," Liam nodded in solemn agreement. No greater gateway to sin than pastry and caffeine.

He found himself blinking at Riley after the spaghetti noodle metaphor before a laugh slipped out before he even knew he was going to laugh. Yeah, that definitely had happened. "Okay, yeah. Fair point. But good. Then we should be fine."

Liam had no idea whatsoever. But he couldn't help feeling optimistic at the moment, given everything that had suddenly shifted in his universe in the past twenty-four hours.

[dangernerd]

"Shut your sexy face." Was all that Nicky said before he wiggled in closer so that he could settle right into the circle of those arms, resting his scruffy chin against his boyfriend's tits because he could, he had a prime spot here and well his boyfriend did have a nice everything. "We'll debate further when I.." yawn, "..wake up from my second sleep."

Now it was time for Trick to make himself a pillow for his favorite brat.

--

The walk was pleasant and brisk, the sort of weather that Riley enjoyed walking in the best. There was puffs that made it so that their breaths hung opaque in the air, and already he could smell the tang of woodfire stoves that brought warmth to most houses in the area.

And the further they went down the path, the closer they happened to the Tea Bog where breakfast awaited, of course Liam's treat since he said he'd buy and Riley was not going to turn down baked goods.

Much like he knew Maurice would not turn down bacon.

[giveanything]

"Yeah yeah. The debate round two later. Get some rest, Baby." Trick would rest too, and would not move from this spot until Nicky stirred because being used as a pillow was his new purpose in life so far as he could tell.

It had been a very long day and a half, and so much had changed he barely knew what to do with himself. The man he'd been yearning for and in love with for his entire life actually returned those feelings and was currently curled up in his arms where he belonged. His brother had done terrible things, but the sudden awful context of it made him realize he'd been wrong about Liam entirely, and now he had a relationship to mend -- after they beat the snot out of the demon who thought he could get away owning his brother. Their favorite priest was doing very unpriestly things with said brother and Trick kind of felt like he might wind up with a brother-in-law at some point the way they had looked at each other. Oh, and he'd died when he was six. Temporarily, but still And he and Nicky were apparently soulmates. ...that last piece was the least surprising, and the most comforting, and the last thing in his thoughts as sleep got its claws into him.

--

Liam jogged ahead a couple steps so that he could pull the door open for Riley, like the damn gentleman he was. He even risked giving the blond a wink as he walked by, a gesture that would have to suffice instead of the little slap to that phenomenal ass that he would have liked to give. He was behaving.

The little gold bell above the door jangled cheerfully to announce their arrival, and from over in the corner, sleeves rolled up past his elbows as he was wiping down a table, Declan looked up and offered a warm smile as he recognized the two men. "Well, here we are, two of my favorite regulars. Good morning, Liam. Good morning F--" He paused, looking at the two of them curiously before correcting, "Riley. There is something different about you. The both of you. How curious." Ducky looked quite pleased with this.

[eblouissant]

Wink taken, and he could feel his cheeks flush in a way that did not look like it was purely having to do with the chill saturday morning in Saintsmourn.

Immediately he was assaulted by the scent of herbs and tea, as well as the comforting aroma of baked goods which he had been cautioned to be wary of though he did not think that this man would sell his baked goods now would he? But he would still enjoy a bearclaw as it was one of his simple joys.

"Different? How so?" Riley said though he did carefully scan the room and could find nothing except a few teens in corners hold up on laptops to soak in the free wifi with every purchase of coffee. He walked up to the counter and leaned against it, certainly his eyes following Liam to make sure that he was following.

[giveanything]

Liam would count that as a win, trying not to look as smug as he felt. It was a very difficult challenge really, and he was probably well on his way to failing it even as he let the door shut behind him as he followed Riley inside. God he could go for a coffee. It had been such a long moment.

He also turned a curious look on Declan, eager to know what he'd meant as well. He was only a few steps behind Riley, and he stopped perhaps a bit too close before correcting and taking a step and a half to the side, minding his manners.

Ducky's smile only widened at the question as he set about tucking himself behind the counter to get to work on plating the inevitable bearclaws and accompanying drinks. "Well, you," a brief incline of his head towards Liam, "look brighter than I think I have ever seen you. And you," his dark eyes shifted to fall on Riley, "You are a wee bit farther from the heaven promised by your church, and a great deal closer to earth."

[eblouissant]

"Am I really further from Heaven though?" he said as he cast a sideways glance at Liam which was wholly surreptitious in nature even as he spoke out the words. "A lot has happened you could say, and I took your words to heart." before continuing, "I will have my usual, and he.." he touches Liam on the forearm lightly, "..is paying."

Yes, Riley was in a good mood despite the Hounds of Hell that were set to fall upon him. Perhaps it was because now he had a direction and knew what he wanted and what was truly important. The fact that Liam had the courage to step ever forward even when he had been scared to do it? Well that had in turn given the Priest that sticking point.

[giveanything]

"Well, everything is a matter of perspective. The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven." Someone really ought to stop him from quoting Milton before noontime, but it couldn't be helped. Ducky was ever the sucker for human literature and poetry. But he also smiled at the two of them, at that stolen glance, at the way Liam looked back at Riley in a far less surreptitious gaze of adoration.

Ah. Young love. Declan was ever the fan of love in all its forms.

Liam flashed the Fey Lord a smile. "That's right. Breakfast is on me, so you know, throw in an extra shot to the dirty chai. He's earned it."