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S: Do you ever indulge in food or wine? Or is blood the only thing you will partake?
S,
I partake only when I must. Such things hardly hold my attention quite like the fine subtleties found within one's life. I am quite fond of watching others indulge their senses, however.
If you were about to suggest a fine meal, perhaps I can interest you in a counter offer? You indulge yourself while I take in the sights, the smells, and perhaps have my own bite later, should you wish it.
Does that seem a reasonable compromise?
Signed,
J
S: That is a reasonable compromise. I enjoy sampling unique foods. I had a wine tasting and dinner scheduled for tonight, if you'd like to join me.
S,
I should love to. Should I be dressed any certain way for the venue or guests?
Signed,
J
S: Wear a nice suit.
S,
And where am I meeting you?
Signed,
J
S: [Address] Be there at 8.
Jasper knew better than to assume that Simon would be alone entirely for such a thing. When he arrived, he was in a double breasts royal blue pinstriped suit. His long hair fell in casual waves about his shoulders, neck open rather than done up for the night. A black kerchief was places in his breast pocket, and he carried a bouquet in a pot.
Within a simple earthen pot with an eye of Horus emblazoned on it is a simply display of flowers. In the center are some white tulips, the tallest of the set. Spilling over the sides are blue violets and viscaria in soft intermingled bunches.
The man adjusted his glasses as he took his walk about.
The place is a fancy as fuck restaurant in the ritziest part of the city. It's small. Not meant to serve more than a handful of people at a time. It overlooks the river, which is shown off when Jasper is led inside and through to a balcony serving area. No one else is here, other than the staff. No one other than Simon, who is already sitting at a table waiting when Jasper walks up. He's dressed in one of his ridiculously expensive suits, hair swept back. No glasses--contacts, if Jasper looks closely enough at his eyes.
His gaze lifts from looking out over the river to Jasper as he's led onto the balcony. A quick up and down look, judging the outfit... but seems to approve well enough. No complaints, at least. "Please, sit."
The bouquet also gets a curious glance, but no comment yet.
The pot is set down as if a centerpiece for the evening as he took in the other. There's a lingering look before he slides into a seat across the from the other. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think this was a date."
Tulips often denote love or passion, with particular varieties having more specific meanings. Similarly, violets have faithfulness and modesty as central themes with more specific varieties. Viscaria's a hard one - something overly romantic, but the exact detail perhaps missing.
Simon doesn't reply, just focuses on staring at the bouquet, trying to decipher the puzzle. "You're going for... particularly romantic tonight, aren't you?" He looks back to Jasper, considering him now. After a few seconds, he sighs softly, as if weary or burdened by admitting this, "I'm not against calling it a date."
"That's good, considering you did ask me out on a date. A high profile location, in public even if rented out for the occasion, while dressing to impress? This is most certainly a date," confirms Jasper with a wry grin, adjusting his glasses.
Simon gives him a brief dry stare before looking back to the bouquet. "I've already ordered, since you only seemed interested in watching me eat."
"It should be quite a treat. The chef is only in town for a few nights. Usually only cooks for the wealthiest and most connected of Hong Kong."
"Then I imagine this will be something you quite enjoy." He leans back in his chair to study the other. "Would you care for the deeper explanation on this one, or would you like to puzzle it out yourself over the next few days?"
"Very much so. Fine food is one of my favorite indulgences." He purses his lips in thought. "I enjoy knowing your purpose for them, but I'm not against puzzling it out myself, if you prefer challenging me."
"It's harder to challenge you if you're not quite trained," comments Jasper. "For now, let me explain to build your base of understanding." He presses it forward. "Smell. They're flowers. The sense memory should impart such things to you."
Only when Simon indulges Jasper does he continue. "The blue violet indicates a watchfulness - a faithfulness which can see you. Combined with the eye of Horus, I see you, and I will always watch over you. The white tulips indicate my own statement. I am worthy of you. As for the Viscaria? It's something a bit more... gleeful. It's an invitation to dance with me. The earthen pot means that should you wish, you could hold these feelings, these flowers, by having them grown again."
"I have been reading a book on flower symbolism, here and there," he admits. "But I haven't gotten very far into it, yes." He pulls the pot closer, leaning in to give a slow, deep sniff. He lingers there a moment before slowly leaning back, regarding Jasper. His lips purse faintly. "I don't need to be watched over. I'm quite capable of tending to myself." He glances back at the blooms. "...Dance? I didn't realize you enjoyed dancing."
"Everyone needs time to be able to rest from time to time," says Jasper quietly. "You're certainly well secured in your place. Still, you've caught my eye, and I can't help but... want to see you healthy and happy." He smirks. "There's still much you don't know about me."
"Between you and Amon, I'll never have any peace again," he says with a weary sigh. "You realize I don't particularly care about being healthy, do you? It doesn't matter. Nothing really matters. My fate has been written." No mention of being happy, though.
"What fate?" asks Jasper as he considers the other.
He waves a hand to the back of his head. "This will eventually devour me."
"Is that so?" The tone still conversational. "Still, I like you happy and healthy. If you're convinced I have so little time with you, shouldn't I be allowed to enjoy it?" he counters.
Simon doesn't immediately reply. Just stares at Jasper for a long moment.
Thankfully he's saved by the waitress bringing in the first course. The plate is a work of art. Everything beautifully plated, sauces placed in simple, elegant designs, and everything stacked into one perfect bite. Totally not enough to be filling, but there's probably going to be many courses? Damn rich people food. It's paired with a glass of ridiculously expensive wine that has no doubt been selected just for the dish. It's probably some rare delicacy like... sea urchin or something.
This, of course, seems to delight Jasper. "You must walk me through each dish. Close your eyes. Let me experience it through you as you savor," coaches the Mekhet. Apparently the night was going to be foodie sensual.
"Very well," Simon replies, not actually seeming to mind this request at all. There's even a little twitch upwards of his lips.
Simon, apparently, is a huge fucking foodie. He goes into intricate detail about the levels of flavors and how they interact together. How the wine enhances the taste and brings out some subtle flavors in the dish you might miss otherwise. It's definitely pretentious as fuck, but... he seems to actually be pretty passionate about it.
This dish apparently is focused on the creaminess of the sea urchin, with complimentary flavors to bring out the sweetness of the urchin--but the wine has a subtle sourness to balance it out.
For someone who didn't seem to care much for kine dishes himself, he seemed to have a never ending supply of questions to prod the other into expressing himself more and more. As the courses come, he seems quite content to engage with Simon on this small facet of his joy - letting the man forget for at least a small amount of time the worries of the world around him.
The courses come steadily enough, timed perfectly to not rush Simon but also not give too much time in between. The next course is some sort of bean sprout salad over a preserved egg that is nearly black. Simon doesn't shy away from it though, finding the strong taste quite interesting. It's served with a different alcohol, this one with a mild taste to balance out the pungent egg. The next course has fish, the next duck, and the ones that come after is a frothy sort of soup to help wind down from the more savory flavors--then dessert, which turns out to be some luxurious twist on black sesame pudding served with a sweet sake.
At some point Simon has had to share the meal with his second mouth--but apparently he timed it pretty well, as he's brought out a second identical plate during that course, which he feeds to the chittering, whining maw.
But by the end of the meal, Simon looks quite satisfied. Even smiling softly. "I wish you could have tried it for yourself. But I have to admit, this was an... interesting experience."
"I suppose I could have, but the mess at the end would have been a waste," muses Jasper as he looks over the man with his own smile. "This way, I could focus on just seeing you in exquisite detail. Sharing the experience all the more together."
"I... enjoyed it," he admits, though he gives Jasper a don't make a fuss over it look.
"I did too," says Jasper simply. "Let's have a bit of conversation as you digest. Then, perhaps, a walk?"
"Yes, lets..." He considers Jasper a moment, then glances out of the balcony, into the restaurant. But no one is going to chase them off, and the staff are keeping a polite distance. "You were... being literal, when you called Amon a fairy, weren't you?"
He chuckles lightly. "Yes, I was. Does that strike you as odd?"
"No, not particularly. Though I didn't fully understand what it meant until the other night."
"Did he come to your door for milk and honey?" Jasper chuckles. "Sorry. That's not a helpful joke."
"No." He shakes his head faintly. "He showed me what he really is."
"... Showed you? I wasn't aware of how that worked." He took another look around before leaning in closer. "What was it like?"
"He insisted we go out into the middle of the wilderness," Simon begins with a wrinkled nose and look of annoyance. "But I'm not sure if that is a part of it, or he merely wished to force me into an environment I was off guard in." He exhales a breath. "He... looks more like a demon, than what I would have ever considered a fairy. Or--a devil, rather. He seemed touchy about that. Cloven hooves, tail, horns."
"... The church often had the two be as one," he notes. "I'm not certain how much difference their is between the two. Still, go on. This is fascinating."
"Mm. I suppose you do have a point," he admits. His lips purse. "There wasn't much more to it, really. We... talked for a good while, afterwards. He offered me a deal." A beat. "Also, he apparently has the ability to spy on anyone who has made a promise to him, so... be careful with that."
"What sort of deal?" Jasper's eyebrow raised. "But I shall keep it in mind. In my own circles, honor is somewhat valued as well. Casual promises are unlikely."
He leans back into his chair, legs crossing as he clearly considers whether or not to tell Jasper the specifics of the deal. He looks out over the river for a moment.
The Mekhet waits patiently. When one has eternity, they can handle all the anticipation one wants to throw at them.
"That we would help the other live a better life, in honor of my wife," he finally admits after a long silence.
Jasper temples his fingers together. "... Do you not feel that a fitting way to honor her memory?"
He exhales deeply. "No. I believe it is. Doesn't make it easier."
"I imagine not." he pauses as he seems to consider something off on the balcony. "I may speak out of turn, but forgive me. I think him returning to your life could be good for you. I believe you're making strides towards a better state, and I cannot begin to fault that."
Simon looks back to Jasper, eyeing the man. "You're not jealous?"
"Can he be awake during the day?" asks Jasper. "No, I'm not jealous that you had someone important to you in your past. I've been in love many times before. And in all-consuming obsession nearly as many. If you're asking if I'm jealous of Amon, well, personally I think you should allow yourself to be close with him if you want to be. I can't be upset to know that others are helping accomplish the goal I want - a happier version of you."
Simon watches him, almost looking... annoyed by his words. He lets out a heavier sigh. "You are so sentimental.."
"You put on such a show when I know, deep, deep, deep down, you're touched at your core. Your black, dark, all-consuming core," jokes Jasper before offering up that bony hand to the other.
His eyes roll, looking away from him in true annoyed tsundere fashion. "...Perhaps I have been a little unnecessarily harsh with him," he mutters, then reaches over to take his hand.
Thumbs worked over the other as Jasper smiles at his little tsundere boyfriend lover. "It's part of your charm. Your don't touch me, I bite charm."
"You're the biter," Simon replies with a huff, but allows Jasper to hold his hand. "Shall we go for a walk?"
"Just one moment. Can we step onto the balcony a moment? Indulge me," bids Jasper as he rises, lifting Simon's hand for a kiss. Pushing his luck, clearly.
He eyes Jasper, but does rise after a moment. "Alright."
When given free reign, Jasper leads them to the balcony, where he gets to the edge, not releasing the man's hand. He grins, looking to Simon, then back over the city. "This. This is the moment."
Simon eyes Jasper for a second or two, then looks out over the view as well. He doesn't say anything immediately. "...What moment?"
"The moment you realize you're falling for me," says Jasper as he glances to the other. "And that even if you shoved me off this ledge, right now, you'd still have those feelings in the morning."
Jasper gets a stare that could flay flesh from bone. His jaw rocks, and it seems he is considering shoving Jasper over the side of the ledge. But instead he lets go of his hand and turns on his heel, stalking over to the table. But perhaps it's telling enough that he snatches the flowers up as he passes (Though they get shifted around from being grabbed) before striding to the door.
Jasper takes a moment to check his hair, straighten his clothes, and pull a small spray from his pocket to freshen his breath. He's got a date tonight, after all.
And then he's following after Simon at a leisurely pace with readiness to dodge a flower pot thrown at his head.
Simon doesn't stop--nor does he throw the pot. Just continues stalking his way out of the restaurant and onto the street. Once there, he turns and shoves the flowers into Jasper's arms. "Come on then, we might as well go to the hotel," he says with a scowl.
Then stalks off to his car, where his poor, poor driver is waiting.
Jasper has nothing if not a smile on his face as he makes his way to the car in tow. Letting Simon make his to-do about being called out for catching the feelz.
When he slid in, he spoke up. "Do you want to know when the moment was for me?"
Simon slides in, and once the doors are closed and they're settled, the car pulls off. He glances over, squinting. "...I feel like you are going to tell me, no matter what I say."
So Jasper shrugs, glancing out the window as they rode. Not saying a wooooooord.
Simon stares at him, eyes narrowing.
Not. A. Word.
The glare turns into a scowl. "Well come out with it then," he snaps impatiently.
"Hm?" asks Jasper as he looks back. "Oh, right. I knew the moment you sleepily, drunkenly, decided that I was not dismissed when we shared our secrets. I asked if I was being sent home, and you sighed as if it was some great imposition for me to stay while pouring yourself another drink. But you said no, and I stayed with you through the night. While you slept... that's when you began to creep your way in."
Simon's scowl fades slowly into a look of mere annoyance. "I see," he mutters, but... doesn't seem to have any other reply. He leans back in his seat, head turning to look out the window.
Simon and Jasper are silent together alllllll the way to the hotel, where Jasper gets out and holds the door for Simon. Smiling ever time the man scowled at him.
Simon's scowl has mostly faded to a cold shoulder, by now. But he lets Jasper hold the door from him, slipping out and leading the way into the hotel.
Once inside the privacy of the suite... clothes don't stay on for much longer.
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