forum A Gentleman? // OxO // Closed

Started December 09, 2019 by @ElderGod-Icefire

tune

Jack opened his eyes to look up at Alexei. A lazy, soft smile flashed onto his face, and he ran a hand through Alexei's hair.

Alexei closed his eyes and tilted his head towards Jack’s hand. He sighed contently, “I’m tired now,”He murmured in a hum. The music was nice as well.

Jack chuckled softly. "Mm. Me too." he replied with a faint smile. "Shall we just sleep?"

Alexei shifted his weight to one arm so he could take Jack’s hand and press a kiss to it. “Sounds like a plan to me.” He fell over with a breathy uff beside him.

Jack smiled again, and snuggled up to Alexei to leach off the other male's warmth. He closed his eyes, already beginning to drop off to sleep.

Alexei let out a long, happy sigh while his eyes closed. He was tired, but more of a content, and comfortable tired, where the only thing he really wanted to do was stay right here. His eyes flickered closed, and eventually he fell asleep to the music.

Jack fell asleep as well, snuggled up with Alexei. He let out a happy little sigh.

Alexei’s smile slowly faded the longer he was asleep, but his contentment was no less than earlier.

Francis shifted uncomfortably in his seat. The opera was impressive, there was no doubt about it, but after sitting in one chair the same way for hours, he began to grow weary. He glanced over to Jack’s sister curiously, wondering if she felt the same way.

Jack kept sleeping, curled up beside Alexei.

Elizabeth caught the look, and gave Francis a quick little smile. She tucked back a loose curl, letting out a slow breath.

Sorry I took so long to respond! Life has been crazy lol)

Francis returned the smile. Life he had the rest of the couple days, he admired her. She had all the same admirable qualities as her brother, just not as… unpredictable? He couldn’t think of the right word. When he felt he was staring too long, he forced his attention back to the stage once again.

(it's okay! I get it lol)

Elizabeth watched Francis from the corner of her eye for a moment, then looked at the stage. While it was true that she was very similar to her sibling, she was also different. She wasn't nearly as flirtatious or inappropriate as her brother could be.

Even with his thoughts mainly focused on Elizabeth, they also trailed to Jack again. The awkward hug, the violin, and the strange moment of vulnerability. However, surely he was off making out with the guy they met in the lobby. He couldn’t help grimace at the thought, concealing it as best he could. His eyes darted back over to Elizabeth. The sensible one.

Elizabeth was quiet, her hands folded in her lap quietly. She might have looked like a female variant of her brother, but their personalities were far different. Jack was the flirt, the outrageous, scandalous, wild one. The one that got beaten by their father. She was the quiet one. The reader, the introvert. The one that only received smiles and praise from their father.

Francis felt bad for Jack. He reminded him of his brother, and he hated the thought of anyone being beaten by their own parent. He admired both Jack and Elizabeth for different things, but he knew it would be more acceptable—for everyone—if he more openly admired Elizabeth, and stifled any empathy for her outrageous brother.

Elizabeth waited as the production continued. She did not, perhaps, understand every word being said, but she understood enough that she understood what was happening within the show.

Francis stared at a specific part on the stage. As much as he tried to follow the production, his mind always trailed other places. Most often it was stirred by certain words in the song’s that reminded him of something else. He counted the minutes until intermission. Or he hoped it was minutes.

Eventually, it was intermission. Jules got up, stretching. "It is intermission now." he said simply. "If you would like to go out to the lobby or use the bathroom, we can."

Elizabeth gave a soft smile, getting up and smoothing out her skirts. "I think I am fine for now, but thank you." she replied.

Francis stood up beside her, checking his pocket to make sure his sketchbook was still there. He exhaled a brief sigh of relief as he felt the rectangular form in his right pocket. He turned to Elizabeth. “Do you think it will be worth finding your brother? Or would you suggest just leaving him be until the end of the show?”

Elizabeth studied Francis for a moment, thinking. "I think…I think that my brother can take care of himself." she replied carefully. She had no wish to speak of her brothers…shortcomings…even if she knew that Francis was likely already aware of them. "He shall be fine, I'm sure." Probably has his tongue buried in some other man's mouth already. She thought bitterly.

Francis nodded absently in reply. His mind returned to the man Jack had met, and disappeared with just before the show started. He had either gone to sit in two separate seats and watched the show together, or had gone to use the doused lights as a cover and ignore the show entirely. Francis was almost certain it was the latter. “Alright then. I’ll just take a short walk.” He supposed it would be nice to walk around after sitting for such a long time.

"Would it be alright if I were to walk with you?" she asked, hoping she wasn't being too forward. She needed to stretch her legs, but she was also supposed to have an escort at all times, and she didn't want to ask Jules, since she hardly knew the boy.

“Of course,” Francis accepted warmly. He’d hoped she’d be willing to, and was delighted when she asked for herself. “Where would you like to go? Perhaps to the lobby and back?” It would be easiest for him not to get lost in a path Jules already led them. But then again he wasn’t too worried about getting back on time for the show; it wasn’t very interesting anyway.

Elizabeth shrugged just a little bit. "Oh, either one would be fine. Thank you." She replied, giving him a soft smile as she stood, smoothing her skirts and then looking at him again.

“Well, then to the lobby we go,” Francis lifted his chest happily and offered his arm out for her to take. It might have been a stretch because they hadn’t known each other beyond a few days, but he wished so badly to be a gentleman to her. He found it was so much easier to talk to Elizabeth than to her brother.