literature

Nearly There Nicely 69

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It didn't take too long for Will to calm down enough for his appetite to surface; just barely an hour. Downstairs, Will and Crow sat across from each other at the dinner table. Curious, they both looked around the rather empty room. It was attached to the kitchen on Crow's left, and on his right was a few windows. Behind him, were some pillars holding up an open archway that led into the ballroom, a much more expansive and empty room.


The dining room was lit by a chandelier hanging over the center of the table, along with several of the sconces lit on the walls surrounding them. The walls were otherwise bare of artwork or any kind of design, and the crimson drapes that kept out the rain and dim feeling of night looked like cheap cotton. The table itself was solid wood, probably maple, but not sealed to look extravagant. By that same token, the chairs were plain and somewhat uncomfortable.


“It's got promise.” Crow murmured softly to Will, somewhat thinking aloud.


Will nodded to him, his hands in his lap with an exhausted expression on his face. “It's not so bad.”


“Want more light?” Crow asked, leaning forward to check Will's face.


Hearing the wood of the chair shift as Crow moved, Will's sapphire eyes darted up to meet Crow's. The firelight created sparkles in the blue so they shimmered almost like the surface of the ocean when the moon's light reflected on it. “No, but thanks.” He paused, then asked, “Do you?”


“Nah. This isn't a … bad ambiance.” Crow replied, feeling kind of awkward at using a fancy word. He took a few obvious sniffs of the air, turning his face toward the kitchen, then smiled at Will. “Smells good.”


“Yes.” Will nodded, his voice getting softer.


The drop in volume of his voice concerned Crow just a bit. Maybe he's too tired to eat? But before he could say anything aloud, Arluin stepped out of the kitchen with a silver plate of sliced bread. He placed the plate between the two boys on the table, and then set a small bowl of butter and another of jam next to the bread.


“Water or wine anyone?” Arluin asked in a very authoritative tone like any good butler.


Crow looked at Will, waiting a few seconds to see if he'd speak. When Will didn't, Crow answered first.“Just water. You, Will?”


Will's eyes lifted up from his dazed expression. “Huh? Oh...” He noticed Arluin standing next to him. “Water, please.”


Arluin nodded and left back to the kitchen. Crow eyed after him, then looked back to Will. “You sure you want to eat? You seem tired.”


“I'm really hungry.” Will replied flatly. He sighed, letting his shoulders slump. Although he was tired, he was trying really hard to sit up straight and appear proper at the dinner table.


Crow shifted his arm up onto the table. He propped his elbow up and chested his chin against his fist. “Just relax. It's your house, young Master.” When Will's eyes refocused to look at Crow, a grin came onto his face. “No need to act stuffy to impress someone of court.”


Without a word, Will shifted his weight back against the chair behind him and exhaled. As his chest sunk in, he closed his eyes. After a second to relax in this new posture, he opened his eyes with a little expression of irritation aimed at Crow. “I wish you wouldn't call me young Master.”


“Just 'Master'?” Crow asked, his grin getting wider.


“No.”


“Then, just 'young'? Right?”


At his silliness, Will had to smile. The edges of his lips curled slightly as the smile broke his tired expression. “I told you before: just Will.”


As Crow's chuckle filled the room, Arluin stepped back in with two plates of steaming orange-yellow squares on them. He placed a plate in front of each boy, then straightened up. “The appetizer tonight is crème brulee toast cooked in egg with extra brown sugar to taste.”


“Thank you.” Will nodded to Arluin, the smile still on his face.


“Smells great.” Crow commented, and the two began to dig in.


Neither spoke a word besides commenting at how delicious the flavors melded together in the warm eggy bread. Arluin returned after a moment with their cups of water with ice in them.


“Mm, that was great. I'll bet it'd be good with a sweetened tomato sauce.” Crow licked the edge of his lips as he ate the last bite of bread. “What do you think?”


“More... sugar.” Will answered as he put down his fork.


“No tomatoes for you?” Crow asked as Arluin picked up their plates.


Will shook his head. “Tomato sauce and eggs don't go together.”


“Have you ever tried it?”


“...No.”


“Then you have no idea what you're missing out on.” Crow poked fun at Will, a smile on his face.


Will shifted his hand to cover his mouth as a small airy laugh came out. “You have such an opinion on food.”


“Don't you?” Crow asked, shifting back in his chair. “It's important to care about what you eat, even if you're not picky.”


“True...” Will nodded, looking down the table as Arluin stepped back in.


“The main course is,” he started as he put down the plates before them. “Herb encrusted halibut. The toppings are lemon zest, chives, dill, parsley, and olive oil. The side is long-rice that's been fried in butter and olive oil.”


“Oooh,” Crow whistled in appreciation. “Fish!” He almost sang the word, he sounded so happy. “This looks great!”


“Truly, thanks to the chef.” Will smiled and then started to eat. While he did so, he began to take bits of the soft bread from the center of the table and mix jam on them.


Crow had to stop eating for a moment to take in the sight of Will eating enthusiastically. “This is the first time I've ever seen you eat so fast.” Crow commented. He smiled when Will glanced at him. “You like halibut?”


“Yes.” Will nodded, finishing the bite in his mouth before continuing. “This is my favorite meal.”


“Oooh,” Crow nodded, “So that's why you didn't complain about the fried egg-bread from before. This is your favorite.”


Will nodded, feeling his cheeks flush as he stuck a piece of bread and jam into his mouth so he wouldn't have to speak. He felt both embarrassed and shy at the same time; it felt awkward and twisted. But it doesn't feel bad for some reason, for Crow to know these things.


Crow took another bite then spoke. “I'll have to get the recipe and make it for you sometime.”


Will paused, looking up to meet Crow's blue eyes. As Will stared at Crow, a genuine sweet smile swept across Crow's face so deep that Will's cheeks turned another shade of pink as a shy smile came onto his lips.


“Actually... Crow.” Will started, his voice somewhat soft. “We never celebrated your being able to see color now.”


Crow raised a brow, his smile not leaving his face. “You want to?”


“Well,” Will nodded a bit, taking another bite. “I thought it might be nice to. Although...”


“Sounds cool. What did you have in mind?” Crow asked as Will's sentence trailed off.


Hesitantly, Will looked to Crow and then back to his food. He was poking at the leftover rice, making it into a little pyramid shape before getting it onto his fork to eat. “There's a few art galleries and museums we could go to, and a restaurant on the water for dinner.”


Crow smiled, nodding. “That sounds great. When do you want to?”


“It's not like the piano concert, Crow.” Will responded, looking up to meet his eyes with a firm look in his. “I didn't know what you might be into, so that's what I came up with.”


“Hey,” Crow frowned, “I'm not a professional spectator of music or fine arts, Will. But I can tell when something's pretty. And when something's pleasing like that, then that's all.”


“Yeah but you didn't want to go to the concert because you aren't into music.” Will replied, looking down to his plate.


Crow looked up the chandelier, thinking over what a good response would be. “Here,” he started. “Let me try to explain it. A spectator is unable to acquire a desire for fine arts, like music and paintings, when he is not exposed to a lifestyle that suits him touring places that specialize in fine arts. Currently, the man before you is expressing a desire to be exposed to fine arts, like music and paintings, and would appreciate your knowledge upon the subject when touring such locales.”


As he spoke, Will had turned his head up to look at him. Crow had looked up to the chandelier or over to the wall several times, whilst spinning his hands in the air as he was composing his words. The more he spoke, the farther Will could feel his mouth gaping open in surprise.


“I – I would love to.” Will stammered out, his cheeks flushing full-red from both embarrassment and joy. “The – the galleries we're going to have really pretty impressionist paintings up right now – beautiful colors all mixed together – and some are really abstract. And several of the murals up in the museum's exhibits are taller than both of us together – paintings of beautiful sunrises and landscapes!”


Crow laughed, shifting to cover his mouth. “You've – you've been thinking this – over a while?”


“It... was... kind of an impulse.” Will replied, shifting back in his chair.


“Nevermind,” Crow chuckled as he shook his hand. “Sounds great.” He took a breath to calm down. “So when does my adorable boyfriend want to take me around to see these colors?”


It took Will a second to reply, and even then, his word was softly spoken so that Crow almost couldn't hear it. “Tomorrow.”


Crow blinked, his eyes widening as his brow furrowed. “Wait. Tomorrow-tomorrow?” Will nodded his head shyly. “...If I didn't say yes or if you didn't get up the courage to ask me, were you just going to go by yourself?”


Will nodded. “Yes. These are things I've wanted to see for a while, and restaurant – I wasn't sure you'd like fish, but I knew I liked fish, and that they also had other stuff too – like pasta... So … I just thought...”


Shit. He's fucking cute. He thought up the whole date on an impulse and accidentally made it ideal for him with me in mind to see beautiful colors. Crow, lifted his hand to cover the smile on his face as he felt his cheeks start to burn with blood as he blushed. “It sounds fantastic. I look forward to tomorrow.”


Instantly, Will's face brightened up as a smile came onto his face. Seeing that response, made Crow's own smile grow wider.


Arluin cleared his throat as he stepped in. “Dessert.” He put a plate down before both boys of a dark cupcake with a few orbs of white ice cream next to it. Will, not waiting for the explaination of what's on the plate, began to eat immediately; picking up the cupcake with one hand as he leaned over the plate to take a bite. “A chocolate cupcake with dark chocolate chips, filled with whipped cream. The ice cream is vanilla topped with chocolate ganache shavings.”


Yum.” Crow nodded to Arluin and started to dig in. “What a great mix. Make sure whoever made the meal tonight gets thanked.”


Of course.” Arluin nodded, bowing a bit. “When you're ready, you have a late-night visitor, my lord.”


What?” Will stopped eating. He'd finished the cupcake and had started in on the ice cream when he paused. “Who?”


A young man with dark red hair, named Noire.” Arluin answered.


Crow stopped eating, slowly finishing chewing a bite of the cupcake as his eyes trailed toward the archway to the ballroom. Will frowned at Arluin, “Doesn't he know it's too late for visitors?”


Indeed, but he was very insistent.” Arluin nodded. “He's waiting in the foyer now. I can dismiss him if you'd like?”


Crow looked back over to Will, their eyes meeting. Will's wondering if it'll be okay if he sees him with me here. He straightened up a bit as he spoke. “I wanna say dismiss him because it's late.”


Will nodded slightly with a frown on his face. “But he must've come for a reason? Can't you behave a little bit while I hear what he's got to say?”


Crow swung his arm toward the arch. “Are you kidding? You want me to behave after what he's done to my family?” Although irritated, Crow made sure not to raise his voice or sound overtly rude to Will.


Will looked down to his ice cream. Quietly, he lifted his hand to his lips, the knuckle pushing against them as he thought.


Speaking rationally here, perhaps Noire has a good reason for visiting late at night. But because of what's been going on, I'm exhausted and Crow obviously isn't in a mood to receive him either. I could tell him to come back tomorrow... But that's... The whole day is booked.


Will curiously looked to Crow, watching as he had gone back to finishing his dessert.


No. I can't cancel tomorrow, but neither do I want the night to drag on any further. A shower and sleep are all that's on my schedule for tonight.


Arluin. Please dismiss him.” Will said at last. Arluin nodded, bowing a bit to Will. “If he insists, tell him he'll have to come back in a couple of days at the earliest.”


Understood.” With that Arluin left the room through the kitchen.


Without a word, Will began to finish his ice cream. Silence surrounded the two boys for a few minutes until they heard the front door open and shut again.


Crow spoke first. “Thanks. If I snapped, I'm sorry.”


No.” Will smiled. “I wanted to get some rest both tonight and tomorrow. If what he needs is urgent, then he wouldn't have waited for Arluin to introduce him.”


Fair enough.” Crow nodded. “What's your plan for tonight after dessert?”


A shower and then sleep.” Will answered. He felt his body relax. It surprised him, having not been aware he'd gotten tense from debating about seeing Noire. “I can have Arluin escort you home?”


Nah.” Crow shook his head. “I wanted to stay a bit longer to make sure you got to sleep okay.” He smiled at Will they both finished off the last of their ice cream.


He's worried that today was hard on me? Will smiled a bit, “If it's like that, you could stay the night.”


You won't mind?”


Mmm, rather. I'm asking if you could.” Will answered, tilting his head to the side slightly. “I'd appreciate your company.”


“Sure,” Crow nodded. He shifted up, picking up his plate. He reached over for Will's; Will handing it to him partway. “If it helps you sleep, then I'm all for extending our time together.”


“Forever, if possible.” Will chuckled at the silly rhyme.


“You laugh,” Crow smirked, “but I'm serious.”


As he straightened up with the dishes and went into the kitchen, Crow left Will blushing at the table contemplating the line between comfortable teasing and serious declarations.

FOOOOD CHAPTER BWAHHAHAAHAHAAAAAAAA
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