aterat | Wandering Around in November

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Wandering Around in November

Who; Llewellyn and whoever!
What; November logs! (Open ones below the cut, closed ones in the comments!)
Where; The market, park, and all around
When; Mid to late November
Warnings; None but I will warn accordingly if something comes up!

There’s something to be said for the bustle of a market - Open to All

Between one job and the next, Llewellyn had found himself wandering the market with a pretzel in hand as he browsed the wares on various tables and through windows of smaller shops that had opened up over time.

It was quiet moments like this that reminded him of his world, in a way. If you tuned out the chocobos and other oddities, squinting just a little…

In many ways, it was better than his world, of course. Society was a little more relaxed here, for one. There were fewer things for him to hide. But he still felt out of place sometimes in other ways he couldn’t quite explain to people.

But there was something relaxing about moving from one table to the next, admiring the craftsmanship of one person’s work or chatting with another about what news or gossip there was to be heard while he bought a snack.

Llewellyn seemed to be on the lookout for something, though it was hard to say what at a glance. One might even wonder if Llewellyn knew what he was trying to find... But he was a bit caught up in some musings, brought on by the time of year. It was a complicated one for the detective, and he seemed intent upon keeping himself busy.

Sometimes Llewellyn would get so distracted with a thought or a conversation that, unsurprisingly, he’d almost bump into another person. “Oh- er… Pardon!” He uttered at one point, nearly walking into someone, only to awkwardly spin a little and lean around them instead. How he did so without falling over was something between extensive experience of almost walking into people and a small miracle.

Progress with a pupper at the park - Open to All

It was a brisk autumn afternoon at the park, leaves caught in breezes to fly through the air and eventually land to only be crunched underfoot. It had quickly become a favourite haunt of Llewellyn’s and his pup Pretzel alike. The open air, the space, the sounds of ducks or excited squirrels were pleasantly familiar. The man always felt far better outside than he ever did inside, often taking his casework on walks with him, even in his own world.

Today was not about work, though. Instead, he’d gathered up a few things from the apartment and hooked a leash to Pretzel’s collar. His intentions were to continue training his wrinkly companion, hiding toys and setting up trails for the dog to follow. He wanted to work the canine up to the point they could practice with people, hoping the dog would help with finding missing persons should such cases arise.

Of course, it had eventually devolved into tug-of-war games and Pretzel taking off at a run to burn off some energy or if another animal or person had caught his attention.

He was a sociable pup, good-natured and often confused over the idea that not everyone would want to be friends… So someone might be surprised by a dog tripping over their own ears to get to them to say hello.

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It was an odd day, really. It had started off as most of their days did when Llewellyn didn’t have anywhere to be. Slow to rise, content to tug his husband closer and try to go back to sleep until Pretzel inevitably made reasonable demands of them to rise and feed him.

But it shifted from there, as small thoughts nagged at the detective’s mind. It was getting colder every day, the mornings brisk and chilly… Thoughts turning to needing to get themselves some new wardrobe pieces for the weather, of course, but also to a small longing for a warm fire place to curl up in front of with Rhy. The mental image was cozy, and the distraction began there.

It wasn’t as though Llewellyn hadn’t already been thinking about the idea of their finding a place to live. Arriving in this world to find they were assigned different buildings to live in had been alarming after all. Even if they made it work, Llewellyn sleeping at Rhy’s apartment and just keeping some of his general clutter in the blue building… It was still not quite what either of them had in mind. Then Pretzel had come along, and a growing dog in an apartment became an interesting experience. Especially when someone got the zoomies…

So he’d been thinking about it for a long time, taking note of places his friend Ignis had given him addresses for, but… Finding himself entirely uncertain and a little lost. Then there were the complications that this world had thrown at them, and Llewellyn had been swept up in investigations that admittedly left him feeling well out of his depth… The idea had been tabled indefinitely.

But something in the change of the season, the vague ideas of things he realized might be nice, and the urge to move forward with their lives had made him sink into a more contemplative state. Not strange for him, but it was definitely noticeable as he moved about the shared space absentmindedly.

It was a funny realization for the man who had once admitted a scattered philosophical idea to Detective Murdoch, that one didn’t need a home when the mind was where one truly lived their lives. Something said by someone who had never really had a proper home. Something to make him feel better about what he often lost or could never have.

And yet… Now he had Rhy… They had each other, and the things that once seemed improbable dreams were actually possible. He had grown with the other, and he wanted to keep growing. Wanted to give Rhy more, wanted to find a place that was theirs… That felt right for them.

He was far more quiet than usual if Rhy were to take note, and his fussing had increased with embroidered handkerchiefs and their houseplants alike as he was lost in thought. He wanted to approach the subject, to get Rhy’s thoughts, but he admittedly wasn’t sure how… Even when he finally spoke up, something else popped out instead.

“I think someone needs a walk…” Whether it was him or Pretzel was hard to determine, the pup having been running around again… The answer was honestly both. Llewellyn’s head was always clearer when he was on the move. “What do you think, Rhy? Shall we take someone for a little stroll?”

Edited 2021-11-26 05:55 (UTC)

Of course Rhy had noticed. He'd be quite the fool to not notice that there was something very much occupying his lover's mind. In fact, he'd been trying to figure out just what the man was distracted by when the suggestion of a walk was put forth. Immediately Rhy rose, layering up his clothes a little against the chill that he so hated.

"Yes, you clearly do need a walk. Pretzel, dear, get ready for your leash. Your daddy has too many things on his mind."

Pretzel, clever pup that he was, made another dash for the door to sit next to excitedly when Rhy said the word ‘leash.’ That word meant they were going out! How fun!

Llewellyn, on the other hand, midway through shrugging on his own layers, paused. His head tilted and a slightly embarrassed expression crossing his face, clearly as obvious as he was being… He hadn’t realized it. Or perhaps he had thought he was keeping it to himself well enough that Rhy wouldn’t catch on. “Mm… I confess that it is rather full at the moment. I uh- apologize if it’s made me a bit absent, my love.” He leaned lightly, reaching forward to snag his hat off of the top of a lampshade that it was sitting on.

Smart dog. Rhy moved to gather the leash once he had his layers on. A walk would do them all good.

"I am good at recognizing it, from time with my brother. Kell was often full of thoughts. Too many thoughts in a way. Are the thoughts something for me to consider?"

Pretzel allowed Rhy to clip his leash in place before pawing at the door. He definitely agreed a walk would be good. When Llewellyn was in this sort of mood, he never sat still long enough for the pup to curl up on his lap and attempt to cheer him up. It was definitely a time for burning off energy.

Humming a little, Llewellyn set his hat on his head and considered it. “I believe so, I’ve... just been unable to work out how to lay my thoughts out properly?” He responded, knowing he’d gone too far in his own head again. Over complicated it, too many details and points to consider. “I think the fresh air should help, to um... get it out in the open?” He smiled, at least seeming light enough about it to indicate it wasn’t bad.

"Pretzel, no pawing at the wood," Rhy chided before opening the door. Training was very important, that much was clear.

Once the door was open he let the pup rush into the hall and then he looked back at his partner.

"Sweetling, you should really just air these things out before they stress you. Promise it helps."

Pretzel let out a sad little whine at that. No. That was not a fun word, in the pup’s opinion. But he listened, at least until he was free to dart into the hall ahead of them.

Llewellyn shook his head a little at their fluff-butt and his excitement. He closed the door behind them and took Rhy’s free arm in his. “That does sound rather sensible, my love.” He could do this, right? Get his thoughts out in a way that made sense… And hopefully didn’t sound too silly. “I wanted to bring something up a short while ago, but… Well, one thought leads to another and then another… I suppose I got a little lost in reflecting on various things.”

The man seemed to relax a little once they were outside, and they started walking (Pretzel towing them along) down the cobblestone road. “I’ve… Been considering how things have been going well lately, er- mostly.” The investigation with plants and forest dwellers keeping him busy aside. “And I can’t help but think that perhaps it might be time to consider… moving forward?” He hummed, glancing at Rhy thoughtfully. His free hand raised slightly, gesturing as he tried to get it all out. “Together, I mean.” The man added awkwardly, as though that might not have been obvious.

"Ah, a thought cycle," Rhy said, his voice full of a sigh. He was happy to hold the leash to keep the dog from racing off, but really he didn't know how to handle hte idea that Llewellyn was stewing.

"Moving forward? Together? My dear, those are not enough words to understand your intention. Do you mean children? I fear I cannot provide you with those."

Llewellyn nearly stumbled a little at that particular suggestion, eyes widening a bit. "O-oh, no. I understand that, my love." He responded quickly, not wanting to give Rhy the wrong impression. He knew it was probably obvious that he was fond of children, but... Considering his own childhood, and the things that happened around him? He was a little afraid of the idea of being a parent and messing that up.

He was still getting used to accepting the idea that he wasn't going to mess up other things. Nor did he expect his husband to be ready for such an idea. "I'm um... I don't know that I'd make a good parent, anyway."

Clearing his throat a little, he tried to get his train of thought back on the rails. At least a home seemed like a smaller step forward by comparison to children, so it did make getting the topic out there a little easier. "I um- was more contemplating that perhaps it might be time that we find our own place here...? I know we've made the apartment situation work well enough, but... I find myself wondering what it might be like to have something that's ours...?"

Well, at least that was two of them that weren't certain if they could be a good parent or not. Rhy wasn't certain how to manage that or not. So at least the two of them weren't, you know, looking for something they couldn't handle.

Their own place, though, made Rhy's eyes widen. He hadn't thought of that.

"Ours? I would enjoy that, lovely."

Llewellyn felt more nerves finally bleeding away at the other’s words. “Really? I’m glad that you agree.” He smiled a little, looking pleased and more than a little relieved. “I know it um… seems silly, perhaps, that I got a bit lost in my head trying to bring it up…” He shook his head a little at himself. It should have been simple. “But every time I tried, I kept getting… hung up on the details?” A hand raised, gesturing vaguely again to suggest the many details as though it were visible. “Thought I should have a solid idea to offer if I was going to suggest it.”

Rubbing the side of his face, a nervous habit, he continued. “But I’ve never had a home before, always just… had a room in a boarding house.” And Rhy, he knew, had grown up in a castle… So he supposed that was a whole other experience. “So I think… Perhaps discussing what might make a nice place for us would be best.” He wanted to make sure it was right. That it would feel like theirs as much as it should also a solid structure.

"We've been comfortable in this apartment, so I can see why you'd be nervous about a suggested move. But if making our own home is something you wish, then I will happily agree to it," he answered. Still, he likes the idea of a solid idea to offer, even if he can happily let himself get lost in details.

"I truly have no idea what would be best for us, Llewellyn. I've spent my life before the Sphere living in a rather impressive palace. More rooms than even I think most of hte servants knew of. Secret passages and secrets abounded."

“I… never thought I wanted one before, or um- perhaps I told myself I didn’t need one. I lived for my work. It was a purpose… Not much more than that.” He shook his head a little, “But with you and Pretzel, I find myself liking the idea… So I do, really. Want it, I mean… With you.” Even if he wasn’t sure how to go about it beyond the available places around the city, in need of repair, but empty. It was a matter of finding the right one… Which meant they could get lost in the details together, to figure out what they would like best.

His husband’s words were expected, as Llewellyn had admittedly considered the detail a few times. Part of him worried that nothing he could offer would be right by comparison. “Secret passages? I would have liked to see that.” He mused absentmindedly, Llewellyn undoubtedly would have gotten quite caught up in a place like that. But he pushed the thought from his mind and he hummed thoughtfully. “But I had one room, and you had many. Perhaps something in the middle would be alright? Rooms with purpose.” Something they knew what to do with. “Like… a cozy den where we can relax in the evenings, read or work individually on our projects.”

"If it's what you want, then I want it too," Rhy promised. Because these were not things that he had thought to ever want. It was always understood that as the heir of Arnes his bride would move to the castle.

This was a metric he didn't know existed.

"Oh yes, very old ones. There were many forgotten I expect. My brother would use them to sneak out sometimes. As would I. Well, I used them more because his magic could win him free. But yes, rooms with purpose."

The promise gets a smile; it was a relief to know that. Something for them to work towards, to want together… Made him feel a little less anxious and silly for wanting it. So he leaned over and pressed a quick, small kiss to the other’s cheek in delight. “Together then, we’ll find something together.”

Llewellyn supposed it was impossible that he’d ever see them himself, but it was nice to hear more about such things. “Yes, I expect that would come in handy if you needed to go out without being seen.” He mused quietly. He could almost imagine Rhy getting it in his head to go out and using them to sneak out… And Kell certainly hadn’t seemed to need help to get around with that spell that allowed him to make doorways.

But at Rhy’s agreement to ‘rooms with purpose,’ he tilted his head thoughtfully. “Is there something you’d like to see in a home for us? I do have thoughts… But I’d like to hear yours, my love.”

"Going out without being seen was often our goal," Rhy admitted with a laugh. "We wanted to see so much more of the city than Princes were allowed. It was a delight to learn. But he knew that learning wasn't something he could always achieve by just being out."

But he supposed he didn't need them now. Wouldn't need them anymore. No, he was only an apprentice tailor. No one important.

"I think I'd like a room for books."

“I can well imagine the secret passageways came in handy, then… There is a lot to be seen in any city, and much to learn about the people who live there.” He commented absentmindedly… “For me and my brothers, we were often sneaking in to places, rather than out of.” Well, more often he was… Though his brothers were just as curious as him at times. He rather wondered what it would have been like to meet Rhy back then. They were both from rather different backgrounds when he thought about it…

If Rhy were to ever voice the thought about his importance… Well, Llewellyn would point out that ‘No one important’ wasn’t quite accurate. He was, after all, very important to him… Which in the grand scheme, perhaps, didn’t mean much, but to Llewellyn, it meant a lot.

The comment gets an enthusiastic grin. “A room for books? I think that is absolutely a must! A small personal library… Always thought that might be nice.” The detective tilted his head thoughtfully, “We can fill the shelves as we find things, hm?” Shouldn’t take long between the two of them… Maybe, Llewellyn thought, he might even be able to find some of those books he’d spoken to Rhy about in the past. “With a comfortable sofa to read on, and maybe a nice chair.” He rubbed the side of his cheek lightly, amusing considering his tendency to not use chairs as often.

"Well, when you sneak out, you often end up in places you're not 'supposed' to be, which I think counts as a form of sneaking in," Rhy offered with a smile. Surely they could accept that much. It's similar enough.

"I miss the palace library. I did not go into it much, but hte chairs were always so comfortable. And yes, we'd fill the shelves as we go. There would need to be a good lamp, or something to hold candles. Oh, and warm blankets for when winters come."

The idea gets a small smile. “There was a public library in Toronto. I used to spend a lot of time there myself. It was a nice quiet place to read and try to learn.” He liked the idea of something… More tailored to their tastes. Comfortable furniture would definitely be an improvement on the stiff chairs and tables, he remembered.

“So books, comfortable chairs, lighting-” He tapped the list off on his fingers lightly, “And blankets are an excellent idea. Mm… on the subject of the colder months… I think some nice working fireplaces are also a must. Something we can enjoy that will also keep us warm, hm?”

Yes, he liked the idea of curling up with Rhy and some blankets in front of a toasty fire. Especially on those cold, snowy nights.

A public library? Rhy’s eyes went huge at that very suggestion. The idea of a place made like that, for everyone to have access to, was inspiring. And his heart swelled. If he ever went home, he might see about making one.

“I warn you, I’m not capable of doing the ward work to prevent fire from spreading. We will have to be very careful with fireplaces.”

In his world, no one just had a fireplace without paying for warding or doing it themselves. It was just foolish.

Public libraries were a wonder, especially for those who were denied opportunities for further formal education for one reason or another. It was one of the biggest reasons Llewellyn had such a wide range of knowledge of varied (sometimes odd) subjects. Llewellyn would be pleased to think that he might have inspired something like that.

The comment gets a curious tilt of his head, really he should have expected such a suggestion… Really, every time Llewellyn thought he was adjusting to the idea of magic being ‘normal’ in a world… He realized he wasn’t quite as far along as to not be surprised by the practical uses for it.

“Mm… We’ll make sure to take the necessary precautions… And perhaps I’ll have a word around town to see if there is something similar to that here? I… Hadn’t really thought of it, if I’m being honest.” Rubbing his cheek lightly, he continued. “In my world, one just learns to be careful. We don’t really have anything like that. So I assure you, we’ll be mindful of it, so we can still stay warm and enjoy it without it becoming a hazard.”

They most definitely could be a wonder if he knew that there were such things. The way that they could help the education of those who didn’t have access to high end tutors was impressive. And Rhy just never thought of such things.

“I don’t even know what the necessary precautions are I suppose,” Rhy admitted with a sigh. This was more than he had thought about before. Perhaps he was a horrid royal to not think of these things. “There must be ways it is taken care of, but these are things my world does not have in the ways yours does.”

No, Llewellyn would be quick to point out that Rhy couldn’t expect himself to know what precautions one took with fire without magic being involved. Not when he came from a world where most things were handled with magic. “It’s fine, my love. I’ll make sure to inspect the fireplaces before we move in to whichever home we decide on, and then I’ll teach you what I know about preventing house fires.” He squeezed Rhy’s arm in his reassuringly, “There are a lot of things we can learn together, I think. Neither of us have had a home like this before… So we’ll figure it all out.”

It was odd, but trying to keep Rhy from worrying had taken his mind off his own anxieties over the idea. Instead, trying to present other thoughts and reassurances. “I think a place for you to work on your sewing would be nice, another box like the one I got you at the sphere… Maybe a tailor mannequin for you to work on your personal projects at home more easily?” He wanted Rhy to have space to do what he enjoyed, after all. Llewellyn would have a garden, but a room for creative endeavors sounded lovely.

“What was your home like, back where you come from? In your Gray World?” Rhy asked, watching him thoughtfully. Because this was something he wasn’t really used to. To think of something that wasn’t their current place, the Sphere, or the palace was out of his normal experience. Sure, he’d found his way into lovers’ beds, but never long enough to pay attention to them.

“A mannequin might cost a bit, dear.”

Llewellyn glanced at Rhy as he asked about his own home. “Well… I’ve always lived in a boarding house? The owner would rent out each room to a different person. Not entirely unlike the building we’re in now, but… smaller? The rooms usually had a small fireplace or a woodstove depending on the house. But it was never mm… a full apartment, like we have now. I had space for a bed, wardrobe... A couple small tables and chairs for myself to work at.” So Llewellyn really would be learning just as much about home ownership as Rhy would. It was going to be an interesting transition for them both.

“I couldn’t tell you if I ever lived in a home before that with my parents. I don’t mm… Remember much from that far back. Just small fragments.” He shrugged, not really wanting to think too hard on that. It really bothered him that he couldn’t recall much from that time in his life, aside from small moments with his mother. His sister Clarissa had never really talked about them either during the few years she’d stuck around.

So he moved on with his explanation, glancing down at Pretzel while the dog trotted along ahead of them. “When I was small, and the landlady took me in, she allowed me to share a room with Hubert and Daniel.” It had been a bit cramped with three growing boys, but they had become inseparable in a very short time, so it had worked well enough. "So my experience is um... also lacking when it comes to having a whole home to consider."

He grinned a little, knowing perhaps Rhy was right. “Yes, I suppose that might be getting a little ahead of myself for ideas… But it’s something to consider later on down the line, to save towards. We can… make a list of priorities for furnishings.”

Closed to Rhy

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