aterat | He just wanted to buy supper and go home!

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He just wanted to buy supper and go home!

Who; Llewellyn (And his Hollow!Sister) & whoever is around!
What; Hollowmen/women plot thing!
Where; Around the city, probably near the markets
When; Late June when stuff started happening
Warnings; Probable violence, Hollow creature, also I got wordy? Oops? I will update if anything major happens!

Llewellyn was on his way home for the evening… A quick stop at the market for something to bring home for him and Rhy to share, and maybe something for dessert. And then he’d be set. It had been, all in all, a pretty decent day. The detective was starting to feel a little more settled into this new world. Work was going well, and it was starting to feel like they were really building a life in this place.

He was still a little worried about the whole ‘Oh the directory was destroyed and the entities inside it are now roaming free, but it’s fine!’ conversation he had with Athony the other day… But so far nothing strange had occurred, and certain parts of the city were a little more safe for the average person to wander than it had been.

What Llewellyn hadn’t expected was to be drawn to a stop by a familiar voice.

“Llewellyn?”

Not a voice he expected to hear again, nor was he entirely sure he wanted to hear. It left a cold, hurt pit in his stomach just thinking about their last encounter… But he turned, eyes dragging to the sight of a woman nearly as tall as him. Dark, curly hair pulled up and tied in place, her garb casual but of the style of their world and time, Clarissa Watts.

Of all the people Llewellyn would have liked to see here, of course the universe decided to pluck her out of whatever estate in Europe she’d moved to after their parting and drop her here.

“Llewellyn, are you even listening to me? Or is your head in the clouds as much as it ever was when you were a child.” Her irritated, impatient tone breaks through his thoughts, and he chose to ignore the fact that maybe she’d been right this time. He couldn’t be blamed for it, though, not that she would understand…

“No, I hear you… I’m just surprised…? You have rather sprung out of nowhere, and I admit… I’m not sure why you’re talking to me. You did say you didn’t intend to ever see me again, didn’t you?” He responded, tone equally irritated. The usual concern that he showed others was absent, even if he knew he should be… slightly concerned. “Or do you want my help now? Do you want to talk to me because you find yourself alone in the world, without anyone to explain what you should do? I suppose I do have some experience with that.”

Alright, maybe he needed to rein in some of that bitterness… He knew well enough that she didn’t ask to be here anymore than other arrivals did. An awkward expression crossed his face, clearing his throat a little. Llewellyn still refused to look the woman in the eyes, though he didn’t really feel like seeing whatever barely restrained contempt she might still harbor there.

An awkward pause followed before a huff escaped her. “I just want to know what this all is, Llewellyn. I saw you walking and I just… I don’t know, you were a familiar face and I didn’t think.” Folding her arms, adjusting the shawl wrapped around her, she continued. “I don’t expect you to forgive me or to pretend things are normal. I just want to know what’s going on here and then I intend to be on my way.” And by her tone, that suited her just fine. “… If you at least humour me, I can answer questions you might have too, you know?”

That gets a sidelong glance, complex emotions welling up at the offer. Of everything she could suggest… That was probably the one thing that would get him. She’d been old enough to know them, to remember their family before the incident. It was so clear in recent years that there was a lot she had neglected to tell him, to teach him in the couple of years that she’d stuck around before she’d abandoned him for the life she’d wanted instead. “Will you answer honestly?”

Because when had Clarissa ever uttered something that wasn’t a lie?

… other than when she’d intended to use the truth to hurt?

He could see a grimace marring her face out of the corner of his eye. “I don’t have anything to gain by lying about them, Llewellyn. If you answer my questions, I’ll answer yours.”

“Right.” He huffed, and that was as much of a confirmation as she’d get, a hand waving in a direction towards a side street he liked to cut through to get to the stand in the market he liked to eat at. It meant to follow, and so she did.

Of course, Llewellyn missed the satisfied smirk on her face as she trailed behind into the alleyway. Seemed he was making this easy.

Once they were a decent way into the alleyway, no sounds could be heard from the street, it suddenly wasn’t Clarissa Watts following behind him, as the glamour dropped there was nothing but a creature made of bones, rot and rubbish that street sweepers would have swept up and out of the main roads... A bone here, broken dishware there, twigs and rotting wood from crates just haphazardly gathered together to make something in the vague form of a body.

A piece of broken wood swung out to catch him in the side and slammed him into a wall. With a yelp, he stumbled to catch his balance against its surface. A sound both shocked and confused escaped him as his head snapped back to see what he certainly hadn’t expected.

No, Llewellyn had never seen the likes of this before… One hand going to his side, while the other raised to block his face as a branched hand reached for him. So he ran, darting down another side alley as he tried to process what was following him and what he should even do.

Stupid, stupid, stupid Llewellyn. Should have known better. She wouldn’t have ever wanted to talk to you, anyway. She would have avoided you and found anyone else to talk to here.

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Llewellyn finally offered a smile at that. “Yup! I can definitely confirm that he was being serious.” The detective had to admit, he hadn’t actually seen Harry use magic before now. The man had handed him a business card, all official that said he was a wizard... But this had definitely been a first.

“I had heard of him using it once before in the last world, but I’d never seen it firsthand before now.” He did talk about it like someone who knew what they were doing, but then again it was hard to say, given how different magic sounded from one world to the next.

"I'm glad he saved you," Rhy told his husband, moving to rise and head for the kitchen now that the arm was tied up. He just had to get them some food.

"We'll get him a thank you gift. He saw that my most precious treasure was returned to me."

“I’m certainly grateful to him.” Llewellyn responded, breathing out a more relaxed breath as his arm was secured and he didn’t have to keep holding it. That was definitely an improvement, and he offered a thankful smile to Rhy before the man moved away. That sorted, he reached for the ice wrapped in a towel his husband had brought earlier and tried to decide where to start. Side… Face… Side… Definitely the face. He settled it against his head gingerly before his eyes followed the other.

He still felt a little bad for not having anything for them to eat already prepared, but he was glad they could at least figure out something here for the evening. His ‘most precious treasure?’ The comment gets a softer expression, and now he felt his eyes stinging for another reason. That Rhy made him feel as wanted as he did, and that he was always so honest about it… It felt good, especially tonight. “And I’m glad he could return me to you, love.”

“He’d probably say it wasn’t necessary, but I would say it is. I don’t know what we could get him though.” He hummed absent mindedly as he continued. “I’m not sure how he feels about wine… Maybe food. Something he could share with someone?” Because Harry had seemed rather preoccupied with someone of late, and they had seemed preoccupied with him. “Hm… I forgot to ask how his flower endeavour went…” As one did when they were distracted by angry spirits and magic.

"The wine at the wedding didn't seem to please him. Food, yes, food is the right choice. EVeryone likes food. Even we like food."

Clearly food is something that people like. Or maybe Rhy is just fretting over everythign and thus babbling. It wasn't something he did often, but in this moment he didn't care. He just cared to tend to Llewellyn.

“We do. I would go as far to say that we really like food. I know I do.” He commented with a softer expression, Rhy’s babbling becoming more apparent as time passed. It reminding him a little of the few times he’d seen him in a worried state before. Wanting to take care of things, to make sure everything was in order... Necessary planning and all that. It was different this time, though, knowing he was the cause of it.

“But we can worry about that later, love. There will be time to thank Harry.” Llewellyn put the ice aside and pushed himself off the sofa carefully with a short breath. Rough shape aside, he wasn’t content to sit around while his husband was fretting back and forth in the kitchen. Stubborn, and a little stupid, he hoped to at least... help. Even if it was by proximity.

Helping by proximity was a thing. Rhy sighed and stopped when Llewellyn came close. And tried not to get frustrated to see him.

"I am so tired of the people I love and care for getting hurt when I can do nothing to stop it."

Llewellyn felt his heart tug at the other’s words… How often had he thought or said those words himself over the years? “I know, love. It’s… a frustrating thing.” He said softly, moving around to lean on the counter next to Rhy.

“I wish I could say there was a way to change that… To say it won’t happen again.” But between the sometimes unexpected dangers of these worlds, and his work, he knew that would be a lie.

Reaching out with his good arm to catch his husband’s, to gently draw him nearer. “But knowing I had to get back to your side… That you were waiting for me? It kept me from freezing up, kept me moving when otherwise I might not have.” Llewellyn could remember several times… He had frozen, he just dropped. But not this time. “And you’re here now, helping me, love.”

Rhy moved forward, putting his head against Rhy's uninjured shoulder, and trying not to cry. It was hard. Very hard. He'd lost everyone precious to him, He didn't want to lose this man too.

"I don't know what I'd do without you."

Feeling Rhy’s head resting on his shoulder, Llewellyn tried his best to give the other a one armed embrace. Squeezing gently and tilting his head to press a light kiss to the top of the other’s head. “Nor I you, dear.” He spoke softly, brushing up and down the other’s arm comfortingly. “But I promise you, I’ll do my best to make sure you don’t have to find out.”

As long as it was inside his control, he would try to be careful… Which was not an easy thing, given his proclivity for jumping into things without thinking about the possible danger when he was driven to try to help. But remembering Rhy, knowing he had someone there… It might just help as it had tonight.

Well there was a moment of pleasure, to be embraced. He felt good for the contact.

"Let me make pasta. That seems easy."

He was glad that it seemed to help, and he lingered until after Rhy spoke up again. This time with an idea, and it sounded like a good one. Pasta was both good, and he definitely thought it seemed easy. You just… boiled water, right?

“That sounds good, dear. I’ll um…” Not get in the way, ideally. So he pulled out a chair from the table and sat himself down after he retrieved the ice again. “If I can help, let me know?”

Well it was a tiny bit more complicated, but Rhy thought he could do it. He had learned some things from Alex. Not much, but some things indeed.

"You can help but being there and not hurting yourself and talking to me."

Llewellyn slouched a little in the chair, frowning a little. He should have known that would be the answer, but it was probably for the best. Sitting there and talking was something he could do, though.

And all he really wanted was to be close and distracted from the evening’s events, so the arrangement would suit him. “Alright, Love. If you’re certain.” He responded quietly as he watched Rhy work. “I um... can probably manage that from here. I can leave dinner in your hands, and I we know I do enjoy talking.” He realized he was the one rambling a little now, but... he didn’t want to get lost in his head.

"I will endeavor not to burn it," Rhy promises, trying to smile. "No magic."

Because magic would guaranteed make it worse.

"I think I have some bread too, we can take the cold ham from the fridge and cut some cheese. Make sandwiches."

“I have faith that you won’t, dear.” And even if he did burn it a little, Llewellyn wouldn’t complain, anyway. It’s not as though he hadn’t had to eat his own cooking on occasion, which he certainly was known to burn. They both probably could remember some of his disasters in the dorm kitchen.

The suggestion gets a curious tilt of his head. He hadn’t realized they had any left. “That sounds like a good idea, and it would certainly be easier than some things to make.” Out of habit, he gets up from the table to at least retrieve things from the fridge for Rhy with his good arm.

"Faith. Belief in things not seen. Yes, that sounds about right for you. Then agains it's right for me too. Magic is something unseen when it's not in use, and I believe in it."

Well they hadn't had any left, Rhy had just bought more. Ham was lovely thank you very much.

"Be careful, dear."

"Perhaps? But it's hard to not believe in things I might not have before considering what we've seen." He responded with a small smile over his shoulder. Besides that, even in his own world someone had to listen to his coworker's stories and ideas with a more open mind than Murdoch had.

The comment gets a tiny wince as he was about to grab several things at once out of habit. Right. "I'm being very careful, love. But thank you for the reminder." Llewellyn added, moving one thing out at a time to sit on the counter next to his husband. Rhy really did know him too well.

Silly man, trying to consider carrying too much. Rhy turns enough to waggle a spoon at his lover.

"I am just going to have to take care of you, old man, aren't I?"

Being taken care of was a subject Llewellyn wasn't particularly good with... He took care of himself and there was always a voice in the back of his mind insisting he shouldn't be a burden.

But Rhy's tone was playful and... Llewellyn was actively trying to not slip into old habits here. So instead, his eyes followed the spoon, a small, almost amused smile crossed his face. "Mm... You could let me take care of myself, but then you run the risk of me trying to carry too many things from the fridge, or setting the kitchen on fire."

See, Rhy was very good at being taken care of. It was something royalty had to live with. So now he was given a chance to deal with this. What more can he do?

"Please, love, let me take care of you for a change."

Closing the fridge door, he shook his head a little. The request a little more firm than the light teasing, he glanced at his husband quietly for a moment. "I can't promise I'll be an easy patient, I'm... not good at it." He responded, his smile a little more wry for a moment before it softened. "I always had to watch out for my brothers, and... then I was always wondering if my sister left because I was too much trouble." He admitted in a much quieter tone.

"But I'll try to let you?" He moved over to rest against the counter, eyes watching Rhy carefully. "You might just need to remind me, if I'm being exceptionally stubborn." He ended with a small attempt at a lighter tone.

"Well, I'm a very attractive nurse that does bedside care," Rhy smiles. Surely the suggestiveness says enough. "Maybe you're old enough to let me take watch of you right now."

He gets the pot filled and starts to hate it.

Llewellyn actually caught on to that rather quickly, and Rhy should be pleased with himself for it, considering how often things didn’t land with him. A pleasant flush tinged his grin a bit. “Oh, I should be very lucky for an attractive, attentive caretaker. I might be so captivated by you that I actually behave myself and be a good patient for once.” He responded, leaning on the counter next to Rhy.

“Mm.. I would be rather motivated to do as told, to keep your attention.” He added, tempted to lean in closer but at least having the common sense to not while the man was moving around the stove.

"That sounds like a lot of good decisions there. Maybe the nurse will need to reward you for behaving," Rhy offered with a smile. Was that a suggestion to blow his lover?

Tilting his head slightly, he considered his husband with a little curious smile. "Sometimes I am capable of them, not always but... sometimes."

Finally, leaning in over his husband's shoulder once he wasn't hovered over the pot on the stove. "Positive reinforcement might be a good way to inspire more smart decisions..." He responded with a tone that was light and a little playful.

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