Catch-all log

[fiachdubh]

Characters: Ronan Lynch, Magnus Bane, Adam Parrish, Arthur Stuart, Jace Wayland
Summary: building a forest; meeting up for post-event debriefs; chance encounters; grooming
Date(s): Post August 12th
Warnings/Notes: maybe some heavy petting possibly at some point but otherwise nothing! I will update if necessary.

Top levels will be in comments!

Comments

>> Arthur; chance encounters

[fiachdubh]

[ If there's something this city does well, it's coffee. Henrietta wasn't really known for its coffee shops or any kind of social gathering establishments, despite, you know, boasting two whole high schools and a large number of students. So Xistentia's numerous little cafes are nice - new, different to Ronan.

He's not much for the cramped interiors most of the time, but some of them have terraces, and that's just perfect to him. Sunglasses on, a book on the table - he's got The Iliad still, lately he hasn't had much time for reading - a cup of steaming coffee in one hand, it's a pretty good way to spend the couple hours a day Adam likes to run around town trying to find himself fifteen thousand jobs.

And usually, he's left alone, and he leaves people alone, too. But today? Today, when he walks out onto the terrace, all the tables are taken. Every single one of them - granted, there are only five, but still. Ronan must stand there, for a solid two minutes, trying to will someone to leave before he just gives up, and walks over to the one guy that looks like maybe, he won't try to have a conversation. ]

Hey. D'you mind if I sit?

[ Ronan might be aggressive and petulant, sometimes, he's also been raised right. ]

[tangleofgarlands]

[Malcolm was the one who initially turned Arthur onto coffee, shortly after he'd moved in with them. Maybe it's partly due to his infatuation with America, but it's also because of the caffeine--he's never been overly fond of sleep; his mum once told him that even as a baby he'd wake himself after a few hours with indignant wails, as though he'd thought he'd miss something important.

In any case, there's not much to do aside from sit in cafes and drink coffee. Today, he's absorbed himself by sketching the patrons of the little establishment he's sitting at, in between sips of something bitter and foamy. Then someone jerks him out of his sketch with a greeting, startling him into scrawling a line right through the center of his sketch, and he blinks up at his new companion to find that he recognizes the young man standing in front of him.

Recalling their conversation brings a slight warmth to his face, but Arthur smiles up at him and gestures at the empty chair.]

Please.

[There's a moment where he doesn't elaborate--he takes a moment to erase the mistake, eyes on his paper--before he works up the nerve.]

I'm Arthur, by the way. We spoke earlier, actually, about that book you're carrying.

[fiachdubh]

[ Ronan opens his mouth at the greeting, wondering how the guy could know it was - oh. Of course, he filmed himself, broadcast it out on the network. Of course he'd recognize Ronan, then.

Arthur. The name doesn't exactly rings a bell, but it's not like everybody introduced themselves the other day, so. Ronan sits, putting his mug on top of the book and watching the steam rise up from it for a moment. ]

Well, I'm Ronan. What exactly did we talk about? There was a lot of text conversations about loincloths, that day.

[tangleofgarlands]

[Oh, right--he never introduced himself, did he? Flushing slightly, Arthur offers up a sheepish smile and turns the page of his sketchbook.]

We talked about Achilles and Patroclus, and a bit about ourselves.

[He could elaborate, but it's a little embarrassing on his part, so he holds his tongue. Instead, he carefully begins to sketch out the hard angles of Ronan's face, keeping the sketchbook angled so his impromptu model can see the work.]

I quite enjoyed it, actually. It's been a while since I talked about a book with someone.

[fiachdubh]

[ Oh. Oh, that guy. Yes, of course. Ronan nods, willing to leave it as is; he may be cruel sometimes, but rarely when it's unprovoked, even if he'll find the slightest thing to be a provocation.

As is, Arthur is already down on himself enough without Ronan adding to it by being an asshole. ]

Have you visited the library yet?

[tangleofgarlands]

[If Ronan isn't going to address it, Arthur sure as shite won't, but he does flash a small, grateful smile before going back to his sketch. He shades in the jawline and transitions towards the neck and shoulder before answering the question.]

Not yet. Someone from my home world showed up recently, so I've been trying to get her acclimated and make sure she's all right. Maybe I'll bring her by, though.

[fiachdubh]

Your girlfriend?

[ Even if the guy talked about being into some guy, doesn't mean he doesn't have a girlfriend. Ronan's heard of weirder things, after all. ]

[tangleofgarlands]

[That assumption, despite being entirely understandable--he's somewhat of an outlier in not identifying as bisexual, after all--is so surprising that instead of accidentally scrawling through his sketch, he drops his pencil completely.

Which, alright, gives him a chance to duck under the table and collect himself as he grabs for it.]

Hardly. Even if I weren't...the way I am, she'd be even further out of my league than Curt was.

[fiachdubh]

[ Ah, ah. Ronan doesn't outright laugh at the reaction, but it's... funny, in an endearing way. The guy seems to not even be aware of what a poker face is. Interesting.

'The way I am', Arthur says, being the same 'way' Ronan is, too, makes Ronan raise an eyebrow. But he's never thought of it that way. Just another part of the multiple facets of his personality. One he doesn't talk about much, granted. But not through shame, or discomfort; Ronan just doesn't talk about himself. ]

I don't believe in leagues, but it doesn't matter if she doesn't even have to right set of tools for you anyway. But she's your friend? Or you're just helping her out because she's from home?

[tangleofgarlands]

[Upon straightening up, Arthur becomes acutely aware of the look he's earned, which is scarcely more than a hint of amusement but still doesn't exactly help him feel any less awkward. At least it's not quite as bad as it is when he's actually speaking to Mandy.]

I'd like to think she's a friend. I'm trying not to treat her like she's my idol, even though she sort of is.

[He offers a lopsided smile, then turns back to the sketch now that his pencil is safely retrieved.]

I'm not very good at it, or anything social, but I think she understands. She seems to appreciate the effort, anyway.

[fiachdubh]

[ Ronan lets out a tiny groan. He does get that pretty well; the social creature in their circle of friends is Gansey, and he's the only one that isn't even here. ]

She's famous, or something?