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[ OPEN ] ; Network: Chainsawd; Video; Story Time;
[ The video opens to Ronan, sitting in a high-backed chair. He makes a motion towards the camera, and the shot changes to an aerial view of what looks very much like a library, books to the rafters, vines and tree branches gently curling around shelf upon shelf. The light is dusty, but natural. Chainsawd swoops back down, settling once more in front of Ronan, filming him.
It's obvious he's not alone - there's a shoulder against his, and he's leaning against whoever is sitting next to him in what seems like obvious habit of sharing space. On his lap, Ronan has a large volume open, the pages yellowed and crinkly with age. He doesn't smile as he looks at the camera, but he looks sort of relaxed.
Without much introduction, Ronan looks down, and starts reading, his voice nuanced; he has the tone and rhythm of someone used to telling stories. ]
Now when Sarpedon saw his comrades, men who wore ungirdled tunics, being overcome by Patroclus, son of Menoetius, he rebuked the Lycians, saying, "Shame on you, where are you flying to? Show your mettle;
I will myself meet this man in fight and learn who it is that is so masterful; he has done us much hurt, and has stretched many a brave man upon the ground."
He sprang from his chariot as he spoke, and Patroclus, when he saw this, leaped on to the ground also. The two then rushed at one another with loud cries like eagle-beaked crook-taloned vultures that scream and tear at one another in some high mountain fastness.
The son of scheming Saturn looked down upon them in pity and said to Juno who was his wife and sister, "Alas, that it should be the lot of Sarpedon whom I love so dearly to perish by the hand of Patroclus. I am in two minds whether to catch him up out of the fight and set him down safe and sound in the fertile land of Lycia, or to let him now fall by the hand of the son of Menoetius."
[ He took his time, reading. It was a book he loved, after all - and he always wanted to give it the recognition it deserved. On screen, Adam's face was visible, now, as he leaned closer to read, too, his chin almost hooked on Ronan's shoulder. Sometimes, you could see him glance fondly at Ronan. ]
And Juno answered, "Most dread son of Saturn, what is this that you are saying? Would you snatch a mortal man, whose doom has long been fated, out of the jaws of death? Do as you will, but we shall not all of us be of your mind. I say further, and lay my saying to your heart, that if you send Sarpedon safely to his own home, some other of the gods will be also wanting to escort his son out of battle, for there are many sons of gods fighting round the city of Troy, and you will make every one jealous. If, however, you are fond of him and pity him, let him indeed fall by the hand of Patroclus, but as soon as the life is gone out of him, send Death and sweet Sleep to bear him off the field and take him to the broad lands of Lycia, where his brothers and his kinsmen will bury him with mound and pillar, in due honor to the dead."
The sire of gods and men assented, but he shed a rain of blood upon the earth in honor of his son whom Patroclus was about to kill on the rich plain of Troy far from his home.
[ Ronan finally looked up, an eyebrow raised at the camera. ]
Now, children, I know my dulcet tones have probably lulled you to sleep with this epic tale of heroism, but who can tell me - what's this book I'm reading from?
It's obvious he's not alone - there's a shoulder against his, and he's leaning against whoever is sitting next to him in what seems like obvious habit of sharing space. On his lap, Ronan has a large volume open, the pages yellowed and crinkly with age. He doesn't smile as he looks at the camera, but he looks sort of relaxed.
Without much introduction, Ronan looks down, and starts reading, his voice nuanced; he has the tone and rhythm of someone used to telling stories. ]
Now when Sarpedon saw his comrades, men who wore ungirdled tunics, being overcome by Patroclus, son of Menoetius, he rebuked the Lycians, saying, "Shame on you, where are you flying to? Show your mettle;
I will myself meet this man in fight and learn who it is that is so masterful; he has done us much hurt, and has stretched many a brave man upon the ground."
He sprang from his chariot as he spoke, and Patroclus, when he saw this, leaped on to the ground also. The two then rushed at one another with loud cries like eagle-beaked crook-taloned vultures that scream and tear at one another in some high mountain fastness.
The son of scheming Saturn looked down upon them in pity and said to Juno who was his wife and sister, "Alas, that it should be the lot of Sarpedon whom I love so dearly to perish by the hand of Patroclus. I am in two minds whether to catch him up out of the fight and set him down safe and sound in the fertile land of Lycia, or to let him now fall by the hand of the son of Menoetius."
[ He took his time, reading. It was a book he loved, after all - and he always wanted to give it the recognition it deserved. On screen, Adam's face was visible, now, as he leaned closer to read, too, his chin almost hooked on Ronan's shoulder. Sometimes, you could see him glance fondly at Ronan. ]
And Juno answered, "Most dread son of Saturn, what is this that you are saying? Would you snatch a mortal man, whose doom has long been fated, out of the jaws of death? Do as you will, but we shall not all of us be of your mind. I say further, and lay my saying to your heart, that if you send Sarpedon safely to his own home, some other of the gods will be also wanting to escort his son out of battle, for there are many sons of gods fighting round the city of Troy, and you will make every one jealous. If, however, you are fond of him and pity him, let him indeed fall by the hand of Patroclus, but as soon as the life is gone out of him, send Death and sweet Sleep to bear him off the field and take him to the broad lands of Lycia, where his brothers and his kinsmen will bury him with mound and pillar, in due honor to the dead."
The sire of gods and men assented, but he shed a rain of blood upon the earth in honor of his son whom Patroclus was about to kill on the rich plain of Troy far from his home.
[ Ronan finally looked up, an eyebrow raised at the camera. ]
Now, children, I know my dulcet tones have probably lulled you to sleep with this epic tale of heroism, but who can tell me - what's this book I'm reading from?
Video; un: kyd
The Iliad. It has been a long time since I read that.
[ His expression intimates that this was perhaps not the happy experience for him that it had been for Ronan. He's les interested in that particular book than where it came from. ]
Is it yours, or did you find it somewhere? I prefer the Latin classics, but I will take Greek if that is all they have.
no subject
It's not mine. Chainsawd, show the man again. [ Maybe Rafa missed the beginning of the video. Chainsawd takes off once more, to take an aerial shot of the library before coming down, taking her time with lazy, swooping circles. ]
We found it at the edge of the city. South-West. It's filled to the brink with books so I'm sure you can find some Virgil around.
no subject
Acknowledged. I will take you there, Rafaello.
[ Rafa's has tenses. He'll take that, though. If that entire building is a library, he's bound to find something suitable. ]
That is good. That is better, in fact, these days have been too long already. What is it about Patroclus that appeals? There are stronger heroes. Most would look to Achilles in that particular tale.
no subject
[ Ronan shrugs. ]
I like this battle. But I generally prefer Hector. He was more human.
no subject
[ Rafa is obviously above such things. ]
But Hector was an honourable man. I can appreciate that. Not one who began a war, but one who would defend his family, and do his duty. He is worth admiring.
What are your views on Paris?
no subject
[ Possibly, Ronan has Opinions. Gansey could say whatever he wanted about Ronan not being an academic, and Ronan never wanting to bother with school, but he could argue an essay just like the best of them when he gave a shit about the topic. ]
What are yours?
no subject
I like the romance of him. He would do anything for love, and that is no poor quality to have. He could use some discernment, but...I would not call romance hedonistic.
[ Of course he wouldn't. In truth, Rafa is more hedonistic than most. He always has been. He sees some value in that. ]
He is not the brave and honourable hero, but we cannot all be that. I see his problem as this: that he did not see all that he stood to lose, until it could not be undone. He was a fool.
[ A word that sounds somehow fond from Rafa's mouth. He identifies more with Paris than anyone in that story, it's an unfortunate fact. ]
no subject
[ If he sounds a little strained, Rafa, it's merely because 1) Adam is pressed right against him, and 2) they've been basically attached at the hip since they arrived in Xistentia, and have yet to do anything else than heavy petting. So that conversation is hitting very, very close to home. ]
A fool, yeah. An asshole. Same thing.
no subject
A fool, but he is love's fool, and that is the best fool to be. Happiness and pleasure. Who would not want these things, and all that comes with them? Who would not want all that comes with love?
Would not you?
no subject
[ Maybe, a year ago, Ronan would have said he didn't care for love. It was a construct of society, a pipedream for most people. Love is an intangible that means nothing.
But now. Now, he'd be a hypocrite to say that. Because he looks at Adam and his heart flips in his chest. Because it means something, and holding him close is nothing intangible. It's as real as Ronan's pain when he thinks about his father's death. ]
I would. [ His face closes a little, the mask of carefully cultivated indifference slipping back into place. He's not a liar, but that doesn't mean he wants to open up to a stranger. ]
Doesn't mean Paris isn't an asshole, though.
no subject
Granted. He put his interests above his kingdom, and his family. Sometimes even love must come second to those.
[ He smiles at Ronan. ]
I have not had this kind of conversation in some time. Certainly not since coming here. Who are you?
no subject
What a good fucking question. Ronan leans back a little, nudging Adam's shoulder with his own. Adam's absorbed in his own book, though, not paying him any attention. ]
I'm Ronan Lynch.
[ At least, that's part of who he is. A name is something you can attach a lot to. ]
Who are you?
no subject
Oh, well now. That name comes with a reputation behind it. Rafa sits up a little straighter, his eyes sharpening as he takes Ronan in.
This is the boy. The one Kavinsky had so much trouble with, the one who had rejected him. Rafa's head tilts. ]
Rafaello d'Este. It is good, I must say, to finally meet you. I have heard much about you. Who is this boy with you?
[ He nods towards the image of Adam, the one who had replaced Kavinsky. Very interesting. Does Kavinsky know they are here? ]
no subject
How? How have you heard about me? What have you heard?
[ He ignores the question about Adam. He's not going to answer if Adam doesn't want him to, or if this guy is dangerous. How the hell does he know who Ronan is? ]
no subject
Kavinsky spoke of you. The story was memorable, as I am sure you can imagine.
Are you aware that he is here?
[ Because if you weren't, you are now. Rafa suspects the two of them would be best avoiding each other, but it's difficult to do that in ignorance. ]
no subject
I've very recently discovered that he is.
[ It's still difficult to parse. Kavinsky being here, not being dead, talking about different and yet bullying Ronan the way he's always done to try and get reactions out of him. A year ago, Ronan would already be out of the door to find Kavinsky and make him taste his own blood, but.
He's not the same person he was a year ago. He raises an eyebrow, wanting to know how Kavinsky's been running his mouth. Did he mention kidnapping Ronan's baby brother? Trying to kill Ronan?
He can't help but feel curious about it. ]
What's his story, then?
no subject
He'll be careful, though. He doesn't want to offer too much too fast. ]
That he hurt you. That he kidnapped your brother to hurt you. That he thought you were his, but he was wrong.
[ His eyes slide to Adam. ]
Is that Gansey, then?
no subject
That he thought you were his. Jesus fucking Christ. Ronan can't resist bringing his leather bracelets to his mouth and biting down, hard, for a moment. He's trying to break the habit, but it's not actually that easy. ]
Do you like him?
[ Might as well try to gauge that. If someone around here is fond of Kavinsky, while knowing that he is a kidnapper; self-absorbed and lost to drugs and his own fucking issues and utterly dangerous, well. Ronan probably wants nothing to do with them.
But then Rafa says the name. That name, that makes Ronan sit straighter, his eyes flashing with danger.
Kavinsky had no fucking right. ]
What has he told you about Gansey?
no subject
I like him. I liked him before I knew of his past, and I know he is much changed.
[ He looks down, considering that. ]
I know he has lost others, and treated them better than he treated you. I know he is not what he was. What he did, I would never do. I have hope he would not do it again.
[ It's possible this hope is misplaced, especially now that Kavinsky is away from Eudio's strict rules. Rafa is aware of that, but as he always does, he will choose to hope rather than dread. ]
He said nothing of Gansey, save that you were together.
[ Kavinsky had not put it quite like that, but Rafa rarely reaches that level of crude. Maybe when he's angry, or aroused. Not otherwise. ]
no subject
That's nice. You'll forgive me if I don't buy that he's changed that much. [ Ronan has no proof, but he has a brother here in Xist, and Adam, and Blue.
All he can hope for is that Kavinsky found someone else to obsess over and try to break.
When Rafa says that Kavinsky told him Ronan and Gansey were together, a bitter little chuckle escapes Ronan, and he shakes his head, running a hand over his face as he breathes in. ]
See? This is exactly why I can't believe he's changed in any way. Gansey and I never were anything but friends. Kavinsky's just jealous and unhinged and built stories in his own head and spouted them out as truths. [ Sometimes, Ronan wonders if he would have done anything different if Kavinsky had kidnapped Gansey, and not Matthew. If he would have been even angrier.
Eventually, he shakes his head his head again, and steals a look at Adam before turning back to the camera. ] That's not Gansey. [ But he is just as important to Ronan than Gansey is, if not more at this point, and Ronan is reluctant to say this to a friend of Kavinsky's. ]
no subject
He thought you were together then, and clearly he was wrong. He will no doubt see that now. Being wrong does not mean he has not changed.
[ Given this public display, and everything. ]
I should let you return to your book.
no subject
[ It's clear and easy to see that Rafa likes Kavinsky. Wants to believe he's a good person or a changed man. Ronan is not that willing, not that benevolent, not that nice.
He remembers a time where he thought they could have been friends, maybe. But Kavinsky had wanted him to choose, and Ronan would always choose Gansey. ]
Yeah. That'd be best.
[ His day had been going so well. ]
no subject