Take your pick (Tristian)

[Tristian]

Tristian laughed (the well crafted one, not the giggle) and said, “I know that feeling. Why can’t younger siblings just acknowledge our greatness and accept their places as second best?”

To be fair, his younger siblings, each in their own way were better at something than him, however he liked to think that he was an ‘all-rounder’ when it came to things. He might not be an expert in one thing but he was certainly good at many things. Well…there was one thing that he was very, very good at that he was sure his siblings were not. However being able to walk around a stage in 6 inch platform heels singing a cher song was sort of a niche market.

“Sounds like coming to Tintagel was the right choice,” said Tristian sitting back in his chair and stretching out his legs a bit, “you’ll be able to blow off a little steam, have some time to yourself.”

[Richard Locksley]

"Exactly," Richard agreed with a smile, glad to have found somebody else who understood the feeling. He found himself relaxing, settling back in his chair and stretching his own legs out, mirroring Tristian's pose. His calf brushed against Tristian's as he moved but he was comfortable enough to not do anything about it.

"I couldn't agree more," he nodded "sure Gwyn and Eddie are here but it's easy enough to avoid them, and I definitely need to blow off some steam, got a lot of pent up frustration after trying to play nice with all five of us under one roof."

[Tristian]

Tristian felt the other boy stretch his legs out, knocking his calf and could not help but think how nice that felt. He was even more surprised when Richard did not appear to do anything about it. Well, well, well, that was interesting. Most of the time the other person would move it, maybe even offer a brief ‘oops sorry’, but not this one. Perhaps it was the confidence or borderline arrogance the boy seemed to have, maybe he was just staking his territory. Well, he could stake it all he wanted in regards to Tristian.

Time to test the waters, very, very gently.

“I can imagine,” said Tristian, moving his smile from polite friendliness to something a little warmer, “well not that you are here, how do you plan on blowing off steam?”

He allowed his leg to fall a little to the left, just briefly before putting it back to where it was, to see how the other boy would react as there was a little more pressure on his leg. If he moved it, fine, game over, if he didn’t…well…game on.

[Richard Locksley]

"Oh, well there seems to be a lot of ways to do it here," Richard couldn't help but smirk a little, and perhaps there was something slightly suggestive about his expression "Lots of...opportunities to relax that we wouldn't have at home."

When he felt the press of Tristian's leg back against his, that expression shifted to contain just a hint of smugness. In response to the move, Richard glanced subtly around to make sure they weren't being watched and leaned in to Tristian, a wicked glint in his eye.

"There's all sorts of things I can get up to here."

[Tristian]

Oh the game was definitely on, and Richard was already off to a head start.

Time to catch up.

Tristian upped the wattage of his smile, and mirroring Richard, leaned in towards him at the same time sliding his leg up against Richard’s. “Very true,” he said in a low quiet tone.

The subtle look around the room had not gone unnoticed and whilst it did send little alarm bells off in Tristian’s head he decided to ignore them. He had dealt with that kind before, and to be fair he too preferred the privacy as well. After all, he had a reputation to protect. Perhaps Richard was simply doing the same.

“You know,” said Tristian, reaching for his drink, “I feel, since you are new hear, that someone really ought to show you the sights, perhaps give you a few pointers on how to relax in Tintagel. I am more than happy to offer up my services…if you’ll have me?”

He took a long sip from the straw of the drink.

[Richard Locksley]

Richard looked particularly smug now, like the cat who'd got the cream, and it's quite obvious he's pleased with Tristian's response. The story might be different if they were being watched, or the action was happening anywhere but under the table where nobody could see, but for now he was content to let it continue.

"Oh I'd have you any day.. as a tour guide." the brief, pointed pause was very, very slight, but definitely there "You've already proved to have excellent taste." he waved a hand in the general direction of his chicken wings as if that was what he referred to.

"Perhaps after dinner, if you don't have anything else to do?"

[Tristian]

There came a point where enough was enough and as Tristian looked at the young man in front of him he decided that enough was indeed enough and that there was no way he was going to let this opportunity slip through his fingers.

Alright, time to see if this dog was all bark.

Tristian stood up, grabbed his and then Richard’s tray of food went over to the bin and tipped the contents into it, placing the tray back on top. He turned back to Richard gave him a look and then started to walk out of the restaurant, not turning back to make sure he was following.

He smirked.

‘Oh my’ he thought, ‘What would Auntie Marian say’.

[Richard Locksley]

Richard raised an eyebrow when Tristian stood up, leaving the table to go and throw away their trays, and he watched the other boy walk away, wondering exactly what he was playing at.

When Tristian glanced back with that look on his face, Richard knew exactly what he was playing at. He smirked, another quick glance around the room to make sure nobody was watching them or appeared to be noticing their exchange, before pushing himself to his feet and sauntering out of the restaurant.

He didn't hurry to catch up with Tristian, satisfied to walk at his own pace, but he was definitely following.

[Tristian]

-The next morning-

Well. That had been interesting, not at all what he had been expecting when he had sat down at the table of the man beside him, however it had been a welcome distraction from the rest of his nightmarish week. It hadn’t been too bad either, in fact, it had been great. He looked over at the still sleeping face and considered it for a moment. Yes, definitely not the first time.

Tristian sat up on his elbows and considered what to do next. The fact that he was still here either meant that Richard was very deep sleeper or that he wasn’t in a rush to leave. Neither was necessarily a good sign but it was certainly better than him having left without a word. There hadn’t been much time to discuss what exactly this was, although Tristian could make a pretty good guess.

Well, he wouldn’t know until he woke him up.

He placed a hand on his shoulder and said, “hey, do you want some breakfast?”

[Richard Locksley]

Richard would have left, he really would have, but he'd had a very... exhausting evening and Tristian's bed was particularly comfortable, so he'd done something he normally didn't and slept through until the morning. It wasn't ideal, but he wasn't about to regret a good night's sleep, so when Tristian shook him awake he took his sweet time returning to consciousness.

"Breakfast?" he repeated vaguely, yawning and stretching until he was ready to properly open his eyes and sit up. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to figure out if it looked artfully dishevelled or just messy.

"No, that's okay," he said finally, having taken some time to consider it. He slid out of bed, hunting out his clothes and beginning to get dressed. He wasn't rushing, but he wasn't taking his time either "I better get going."

[Tristian]

As Richard got up and started picking up his clothes, Tristian pulled himself up even further and sat with his back resting against the headboard, his arms folded across his chest. This was good; he could maybe go back to sleep a little longer and then go make breakfast.

It had not been entirely unexpected; there had been those looks around the fast food place to make sure that no one was watching them. However, Tristian had given up caring about the ‘mad dash’ in the morning a long time ago. This wasn’t the first time and it wouldn’t be the last time. At least Richard had stayed the whole night, that didn’t happen often.

“Ok,” said Tristian, “well, feel free to grab a muffin on your way out; there should be some on the table. Thanks for last night.”

He started to lie back down on the bed when he sat up again, “oh! Yeah, make sure you give the door a good tug when you close it, sometimes it doesn’t shut properly.”

He lay back on the bed, a satisfied smile on his face ready to drift back into blissful sleep.

[Richard Locksley]

"You're welcome," Richard paused long enough to glance over at Tristian and shoot him a wink. Of course he didn't thank Tristian in return (even though he definitely, definitely should) because he was just that arrogant - or rather, he liked to maintain that facade of arrogance.

He was almost entirely dressed before he spoke again, but as he sat down on the edge of the bed to do up his shoelaces he remained pointedly not looking at Tristian and added one final little thing, his tone casual but firm.

"And you're not going to tell anyone about this, right?"

[Tristian]

He laughed a little at the ‘you’re welcome’ as he started to get comfy again, stretching out in the bed and pulling up the covers.

When Richard asked his question, Tristian, with his eyes still closed, half falling back asleep simply raised his arm with his thumb up and said, “yup, sure, no problem.”

He opened his eyes briefly to look at Richard and smiled, “wouldn’t have anyone to tell anyway, although I will say it is getting a little crowded in this closet of ours. Now if you don’t mind, I’m going back to sleep, I still have a few hours before I have to drag myself to class and given that I didn’t get much last night and I'm eager to make the most of it.”

[Richard Locksley]

Richard paused for a moment, glancing over his shoulder as if trying to figure out if Tristian really meant it, he accepted the request with so much ease it was almost suspicious. But no, it seemed they had both been on the same page without even realising it (as far as Richard was concerned), and this morning ended up being far more pleasant than some he'd had.

He shrugged, pushing himself to his feet and grabbing his jacket, grabbing the offered muffin before he left as well
"See you around then." he called, heading out of the door - although not without a quick scan outside to make sure there was nobody he wouldn't want seeing him.

Now he wasn't feeling quite so negative about coming here.

[Tristian]

As Tristian lay in the bed drifting back into sleep, a thought suddenly occurred to him. Whilst his own clothes lay strewn about the room Richard had continued to where that white under top, and what were those strange ridges he had felt under it? Hmm…seemed Richard wasn’t just hiding his preferences. A guy that was filled with secrets…just like him.

He would have to ask him the next time he saw him. Which was when he realised that he was going to see him again, that he was going to look for him. After all, he had a proposition for him.

This flat was lonely on his own but blessedly discreet, Richard already knew about one of the things he was hiding and perhaps…perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to have a roommate after all.

-fin-