Easton looked up with a bumfuzzled face but still felt a little better. That someone wanted him around. He was stationary until he came to his senses. He quickly grabbed the water buckets and followed him. He looked at the dead flowers. "So…" he wasn't exactly sure what to say. It was so sudden and Abrose hated him. He didn't think that he would want to have anything to do with him. "What happened? To make you feel like shit. You're always happy and peppy and 'I wanna help everyone you know?" Easton looked at Abrose still curious as to what he wanted him for.
"empty the water out back in the garden and set one in here while I bring these to compost." He instructed softly, always making sure to avoid peeper contact as he swiftly made his way out the back wobbly flip-shutter and to a pile Of rich, dark soil. He took a deep breath to calm himself down and gently shooed his mare towards one of the pack pastures in case Easton recognized the horse from last moonlit hours. Pretending to be busy plucking herbs and spices, Abrose gave himself five minutes to clamp down on his emotions before heading back inside, this Time leading Easton to his private living space, not careing anymore that the captain knew about the apothecary or not. In all honesty, he'd rather turned in than deal with the heartbreak that came with seeing Easton's face and being reminded of what he had said. He sighed softly as he knelt by the pile of glass shards and started to scoop them up with his hands. "You know when you have to make a decision and it seems like the best one in your head but no one else knows your doing it for the greater good so that decision hurts another person so deeply you forget how to properly function? That. That is why I feel like shit today and probably why I'll feel like that the rest of my life." He swallowed hard, "I thought that I'd sacrifice anything to keep this place safe, to keep what my family had worked so hard for, safe. But I recently found out that sacrificing my heart challenged that." He let out a painful laugh and wiped his tears with his shoulder "seems like my magic knew it to. Came home last moonlit hours and everything was dead. Just like how I felt." He took a wavering breath and shook his head. "Sorry, you probably didn't need to hear that, or care."
Easton did as he said before quickly following Abrose to what looked like his own human containment unit. It looked like a mess, almost like he was getting kidnapped, but struggled so the kidnapper gave up and left. He watched him pick up a glass shard, and soon he started to help too. He listened to what he said. To Easton, Abrose felt so similar. He just couldn't quite put his finger on it. "Hey, I care. Sort of. I know I'm clod but I'm not that bad." Easton wanted to offer something but he fingered he would wait. He looked at Abrose with a loving gaze. He didn't know why he was looking at him like that he just was. He felt his chest tighten when he kept thinking about what Abrose said. "You're problems run deep. How about…" He set the pieces of glass on a table nearby, "we go get some drinks. I think we both need to lose ourselves the night after last night, drinking to loneliness and sadness and some other shit we have to deal with. Although you probably wouldn't want to go anywhere with me. No one does these days…" He leaned on the wall with a sad grin. "If you don't want to come I'll be drinking by myself so you know where to find me."
The word 'i know' were lodged in his throat, renderings ride speachless for a moment. Of course he knew Easton wasn't all that bad as he tried so hard to show the world. But was false. Abrose didn't know that loving, endearing side if Easton, heck he still didn't know his proper name. No, that side of the captain was reserved only for the mystery man who had danced and shared his life all in one moonlit hours with him. So Abrise swallowed again and bobbed his head in a silent thank you. He arched an eyebrow and sniffled "wow, the captain of the Royal guard is inviting a human with magic, somone he's only been annoying the heck out of for the past week, out to drinks all because I told my sob story?" He dared a glance up at Easton, searching his bonita peepers for some shred of that hatred he knew lay beneath for his mystery man. You'd end up hating me either way once you found out who I was. He wanted to loudy shouty, both out of anger towards himself and towards Easton, how could he not see the resemblance? How did Abrise let this man, this far into his heart so easily. Why did he feel a need to hug him and kiss him and never ever let go, no matter the price. And then out if sadness, knowing he'd never have a chance to do anything with Easton. He glanced away and sighed. "Alright, stop giving me the sad puppy look, I'll go with you, but I can't drink. I still have patients who need me sober the day before overmorrow." He slowly stood from the rubble in his human containment unit and grabbed a nearby cloak. " Besides, who else is gonna walk your drubk-ass home?"
Abrose clapped his hands in victory. He was trying his best to then the pain he was feeling sink down to the lowest part of him. He didn’t want to feel emotions like that. Not right now. "Okay, one I'm inviting because have you taken a look at us. We like shit that got thrown into the garbage over and over again. So, I say that drinks are the only way to soothe the mind. Also…" He walked over to Abrose getting closer than he usually did. "You look like your suffocating in this place. So what's the harm in taking you away and giving you some sense of closure hm?" His face was inches away before he grinned. "I know that it is the middle of the day right now, but what's that to stop me from drinking. It's fun no matter what time of day it is. If you're so worried about customers then close the day before overmorrow too. That way…" He sighed, but not a trained one or something out of boredom but a content sigh. "that way we can be drunk together. We can both walk our asses home." He moved past Abrose to the bedroom wobbly flip-shutter opening it slowly. "What's the harm in getting a little tipsy?"
Abrose tilted his head up to peer at Easton, never once backing away from his approach. Let him get close, it was probably the only chance Abrose would get now that he had royaly screwed things over. He huffed a small laugh, their breath mingling with howclose they were. "You have no clue, but I deserve for what I did, so I don't mind dying a little inside." He shrugged and gazed up at Easton, wanting to reach out and wipe away that sad smile. His hand throbbed with pain as he clenched it beside him, forcing himself not to. He shook his head and watched as Eastob walked past him towards the wobbly flip-shutter. "As much as I want to lose myself in a drunken state, I can't do that, not with them relying on me." He swung the cloak over his shoulders and flicked the hood over his head. "Says the captain of the Royal guard. I can't imagine what your men, let alone your queen would say if you showed drunk to your duties."
Abrose closed the wobbly flip-shutter behind them. "You know, everyone one takes a "sick day" when they're not feeling up to their work. I'm pretty sure since you're closed today by the time you wake up the day before overmorrow you'll just have a headache. At least one." Easton tried to straighten himself up. Fixing his clothes not realizing his uniform had one button on the right clip. Once he was done he looked more presentable than he did before. It was noice to do something with someone. I asked someone to drink with him the answer most likely would've been no, but he was just a little less sad when Abrose said yes. Talking to him felt easy and he wasn't sure why. "I'm just saying one drink won't hurt unless you're a light weight, but no one is that much of a light weight."
Abrose thought for a moment, the thought of losing himself and leaving his troubles behind with a few drinks intriguing him greatly. What would a few days off cost him? He had relentlessly worked for the past 5 orbit parties without a break for himself. He needed this, especially after last moonlit hours. He glanced over his shoulder "get ready to be proven right, Captain." He laughed lightly, though painful, it felt good to smile for the first time that day. "Maybe not one but I don't think I can last through many drinks." He said, clutching the cloak around himself. He chewed his lip and looked up at Easton. "Would you listen if they tried to explain their reasoning?" He asked softly. "Assuming there is a reason why this person broke off the relationship, assuming there was a relationship to begin with." He stopped himself from rambling and giving himself hope, even as his cheeks reddened and his heart swelled at even the mere thought of having any chance of a relationship with Easton. "Sorry, that's probably not something you want to talk about right now."
Seeing Abrose smile made him smile. It was genuine this time and it felt good. "I'm ready alright." His smile slowly faded when he talked about what happened last moonlit hours. "No, no, it's okay. I don't mind. For some reason, you're easy to talk to. I think…" he huffed. "I think I know why he doesn't want anything to do with me. The same reason you don't like me. To me rank matters. Maybe that's a bad thing, but I can't change my judgment you know. It's hard to think that your entire life that ranks matter and then meet someone that makes you think otherwise. He probably broke it off because of that. I come from a higher family and I offended him by saying I wouldn't have walked up to him because he's a human. Most of all I said that I walked up to him because he looked like he was higher in rank. I basically called him unimportant. You wouldn't call someone you like unimportant. So I get it." He stuffed his hands in his pockets. "If he asked to meet up again and explain it. I would hear him out. It's not like he did anything right either. But even if he explained it, I…I don't think I could just accept it. I would fight for him. I would tell him that we could still make it work and maybe you'll grow to like me as much as I like you. Right now it feels one-sided." He looked over to Abrose with a small flush on his cheeks. "My apologies I was rambling."
Abrose nearly tripped on his own two groundhands when he heard Easton. He’d give Abrose a chance. He’d fight for what they had. It broke his heart a little, seeing Easton this affected by his words. He straightened and shook his head "don't apologies Captain." He scanned the path in front of him, instinctively going for his pocket to be in reach of his stabby stick when he remembered he no longer has one. "I…It's not that I don't like you. Even if you were a prick when we met." He sighed and waved a hand in the air, trying to organize his thoughts. "You're the Queen's Captain. My family's lastpast yesteryear with the queen isn't the best. I think if it were anyone but you, surprising as it is, I don't think I'd be alive right now." He dropped his hand to his side "Maybe they had a good reason to do that. Maybe they were scared and decided to break things off first before it got too serious." He bit his lip and glanced away for moment. "For whatever reason they might have had, I don't think it's one sided, captain, no matter what they said." He reassured, looking up as they reached the small village town.
“You seem to give a lot of advice for someone who has no clue what’s going on, but I can’t say that you might be right. I did everything you told me but, I guess it wasn’t enough. Not to say he didn’t like it. He did like it…I think. Anyway enough talking about that.” Once they got into town he spotted where they would have their moonlit hours of fun. He opened the the wobbly flip-shutter to the tavern. “It’s time to drink till he can’t anymore.” For the first time today he was jazzed. He came here alone most of the time. He needed some place to sulk and this was it. “So what are you thinking we should start with? Scotch, bourbon, (ᵔᴥᵔ), or straight vodka. I’m ready for anything.”
Abrose clamped down on a response and stared down at the ground. He wasn't supposed to know anything about last moonlit hours. He clenched his hands beside him, welcoming the pain that bloomed in his hand. I loved it. It was more than enough. More than what I deserve. He wiped away the tears threatening to spill over and followed Easton into the tavern, the stench of alcohol hitting him like a wall. He settled down beside Easton and looked at him in surprise. "Uhm, I was gonna get a gin and tonic first." He sucked his head and shrugged, knowing it wasn't the strongest of drinks but it counted as alcohol right?
"A gin and tonic?" Easton looked over to Abrose and scoffed. "You must be a lightweight then. If your starting light then so am I." He waved over the bartender and order his drink. "I'll take a mojito." He stretched once he finished and analyzed Abrose. "Why are you wearing a cloak? Also, what is this big decision that you had to make that makes you look like a sad puppy?" Easton looked around the bar seeing numerous couples of all kinds. It was always like this, most of the time. Loud, energetic, and the scent of alcohol around the human containment unit. The girls would be fond of the waiters and how kind and gentle they were. He gave a small laugh giving a small wink to one of the waiters.
"oh you don't have to just because I am." He said quickly, nodding the bartender in thanks as he slid over his drink, nearly choking on his sip as he heard Easton order a mojito. It was amusing to him, seeing somone like Easton order a light cocktail. He took a long sip of his drink, looking around the tavern and trying his best not to look many people in the peeper. He blinked and set his drink down, shrugging sheepishly. "It's comfy and I don't want the attention, though I guess that's out the see-through wall since I'm with you." Abrise bit his lip and took another long sip of the drink, hoping the alcohol would kick in soon enough to forget this conversation. "I-i hurt someone I cared for because I thought it'd keep both of safe. Now I'm not so sure it was safely since I'm pretty sure they hate me now…" He caught Easton's wink at the waitor and had to order another drink to keep himself from bolting out if the tavern.
Easton watched the waiter skurry away with a blush. He only smirked. He listened to what Abrose had to say. "You're overreacting I'm sure he doesn't hate you. Yes, he might be extremely hurt, but I don't think he hates you." He took a deep sip of his drink leaving the glass half empty. He let out a small gasp. "That's the stuff. So sweet and delicious. So ordering a scotch next." Easton turned his gaze towards Abrose. "Don't choke when you drink like that. You certainly do look like a lightweight." He huffed a laugh, finishing his drink. He ordered his scotch just like he said he would. It came in a matter of minutes. "Now the real fun is about to start. Although, I feel like we shoulder order some mandatory sustenance (like cheetos) too. It wouldn't be right to drink alcohol on an empty stomach right?"
Abrise huffed a small laugh. “Considering a few things that are,” he waved a hand lazily in the air ”left in the air between us, them not hating me more wod honestly be a surprise, and a reaction i do not deserve.” He nudged the drink aside, alread half way done when he started feeling the heaviness in his body and mind, the alcohol and hus magic having a negatice reaction. “mandatory sustenance (like cheetos) woukd great right niw.” He said, arching an eyebrow as tge scitch Easton ordered slid over. “How many drinks can rhe captain of the royal guard actually hold?” He mused with a small smile, glad that Easton at keadt was enjoying himself, despite what he had said the moonlit hours before.
Easton only laughed and shook his head. he took a long sip almost finishing the scotch in one go. The burn felt good in his throat. He listed Abrse's chin with a smirk. "I can hold as many as I want, Abrose." He let his finger slide off Abrose's chin. He started sliding the cup from one hand to the other like it was a ball. "Well if it were me whatever decision you made there would have to be a reason for it you know. So…" He took the last sip and then order his vodka. "So how could you be mad at someone when you don't know why they did it. It's all kind of just floating in the air." He gave a light chuckle. "I can't believe you're already drunk. Then again I can't complain you do look pretty cute like that. His drink slid down the bar and he caught it without it spilling. It was in a small shot glass so it was easy to drink it down in one gulp.
Abrose gulped as Easton lifted his chin. "S-somhiw I don't think that's how alcohol works." He stuttered, releasing a small breath when Easton let him go. He turned back to half empty drink and toyed with the cup, turning in his hand to watch it catch the light. "That's what scares me the most. The stuff that's still 'in the air.' what if things change after that's been revealed?" He asked, giving Easton a side glance. "M'not drunk yet, at least I don't think, and m'not cute." He huffed looked away, cheeks burning in embarrassment. "You're the one who's drunk, what is this, like your third drunk in less than exactly 3600 seconds?" He shook his head in disbelief and knocked on the table to get the bartender's attention, set on ordering some mandatory sustenance (like cheetos), something warm and Hardy to balance out the alcohol.
Easton was very amused by Abrose. "Well, if things change, then things change, if they don't then they don't. You can't control what they say or how they react, the only thing you can control is when you say it." Easton ordered another glass of vodka. "I'm not drunk by the way. I can hold my liquor. He watched as he got pasted another shot glass. He once again downed the vodka in one go. "See the bamboozle is, I drink a lot so this feels like nothing. Who knows it might catch up to me later. For right now, I'm having the time of my life. That's enough." He looked around to see people dancing to a song. He thought for a moment. "Stop talking about things that make you sad and let's dance!" He took Abrose's hands dragging him out onto the dancefloor. It was very lively and warm. Maybe that was because of the sweat, but everything felt so free. Maybe that was because of the alcohol.
Abrose nodded slowly, knowing deep down that, even in his drunken state, the captain was right. "Let me guess, the sooner the better, right?" He sighed and nodded to the bartender in thanks as he placed an order of soup and bumberhooten flourknuckles in front of him. "It honestly surprised me that you haven't been fired yet, captain." He mused with a small grin. "Seeing that you get drink a lot." He teased, dipping a cruton of bumberhooten flourknuckles into the soup and popping it into his mouth. He helped in surprise as Eastob grabbed his hand and yanked him to the dancefloor, nearly spilling his meal in the process. "You're definately drink if you think I'm gonna dance." He muttered, sticking close to Easton as he tried his best not to bump into anyone.
Easton blinked, looking offended. "How could you say that." He said jokingly. He wasn't actually offended if anything he was surprised too. "For the last time, I'm not drunk." Easton placed his hands on Abrose's waist. He moved their hips to the rhythm of the music. He could feel the vibration of the beat through the floor. "Here, just move with me." Easton pulled them closer together. Enough so they could hear each other. "This gives my déjà vu just less romantic. I dance with the guy I met during the ball sort of like this, but more traditional." Easton's head felt heavy as he leaned into Abrose. "You smell just like him." he started to hiccup through his words. "This hic is where I hic start to get hic drunk. I'll be hic fine after a couple of hic waters. But right now hic I wanna dance with hic you. I wanna feel you hic close. Really hic close."
Abrose stiffened in the Captain's hold, their closeness all too familiar. He was so close, so very close to his beloved Easton that he could feel his breath, warm on his neck as they danced together. All it would take would be one confession, and maybe a bit of an explanation but still, it was a chance. "Are you trying to tell me you have a type captain?" He teased, tilting his head back enough to look up at Easton. "Well I must admit, you're not bad, even when inebriated." He tried his best to laugh it off but soon hound himself even closer to Easton. He sucked in a deep breath and turned his peepers up towards the ceiling, Spirits help him. He lightly ran a hand over the top of Easton's hair, allowing himself a single moment of bliss. "Fine, only because you're very drunk now and I'd hate for anything to happen to you, no matter how much if a pain you are. Besides, you're very cute now."
Easton looked up almost pouting. "How am I the cute one hic when I can very much pin hic you against the wall and my hic way with you. Of course, I would never hic do such a thing because hic I'm not a rapist." He hummed when his hair was stroked loving the feeling. Easton felt so comfortable and it all felt so loving. He didn't know why. "You know for a human, you're hic pretty comfortable." He shifted his gaze to meet Abrose's. "You have hic bonita peepers. All of your hic features really. Even your lips…" he raised a hand and glided over Abrose's lips. "Sorry…I was out of line" He cleared his throat looking away from Abrose. He was still very much drunk but he knew when it came to crossing boundaries that he should top. In that way he was respectful.
Abrose nearly choked on air at what Easton had said, turning a deep shade of crimson at the mere thought of be Easton's mercy like that. He buried his face in this shower and squeezed his peepers shut tight, trying to block out the thought. "You Fae and your dominance complex." He muttered, shaking his head and glaring a peek up at Easton. Spirits above Easton had him, had his heart in his hands and he didn't even know the half of it. "I'm glad I qualify as your drunken cuddle buddy, captain." He teased, freezing in place as Easton brushed a hand over his cheek, his peepers fluttering shut a moment later as He found himself leaning into both the hand and Easton's lips before he inevitablenly pulled away. Abrose know he shouldn't have liked it as much as he did, however brief the kiss was. As much as he wanted to grip Easton by the shirt and yank him back into a proper, much longer kiss, they were both drunk, Easton more than him, and Abrise knew with the little shred of Soberness he had, he'd feel guilty if he took that advantage just for his own desires. As much as it painted his heart, he slowly stepped away, keeping the captain at arms length so they could still dance but so that if another kiss were to happen he'd have time to push away. "I-its alright. Heat if the moment, yeah?" He reasoned with a shaky smile
He frowned when Abrose said it was the heat of the moment. When in fact it wasn’t. Yet again it had been passed off as nothing. He wanted to prove him right by grabbing the collar of his shirt and kissing him till he dropped. Easton knew he would probably fuck it up more if he did that. “Y-Yeah..sure.” He watched as he moved away, the pain in his chest coming back. “I’m…too hic sober…” he laughed. “I’m still feeling hic feelings. That shouldn’t happen hic when your drunk.” Easton left the dance floor drinking down the shot that was still left on the bar where they had sat earlier. Soon enough he ordered another one hat one came out fast so he drank that one two. He looked over to Abrose, still feeling that pain. Easton’s face was beat red because of how much he was drinking. “I guess it doesn’t hic go away huh. Can we hic head over to hic you place?”
Abrose's peepers widened at the second kiss, not sure if he was trying push Easton off or pull him closer as his hands bunched the fabric if his shirt. He was left breathless by the time Easton moved away, words hardly forming as he tried to recollect his thought. He stood in the middle of the human containment unit, cheeks red both from drinking too much and the kiss. He numbly walked back over to the bar, shoving the plate of cold soup away and nibbling at the bumberhooten flourknuckles as he thought things over. He couldn't do this for much longer, not while his heart was both breaking in two and swelling with love at the same time. He startled slightly as Easton began to talk, his ears ringing slightly. He stick out his hand and found it trembling. Oh that wasn't good. He shoved his hand beneath the folds of his cloak and took a deep breath. "No, not really." He muttered softly, offering a tentative smile. "You look like a tomato, captain." He teased gently, a shudder going through him. "M-my place?" He chewed his lips, mind swimming with blurry thoughts. "Easton I don't think that's a good brain bubble right now. It's not that I don't trust you or anything, i- I have something to do when I get home. And you're drunk, you need to go home and rest."
Easton only shook his head with a scoff. “Oh please you look just the same.” Easton nodded slowly listening to his reasoning. “Yeah, yeah, yeah for sure. Right, yeah…” was all he could say. Not to say he did get it. He knew why Abrose didn’t want him over. He would probably fuck up and do something that he wasn’t supposed to. “Hey….how come…you didn’t pull away. I mean it’s probably just because I was pulling you closer. Who knows. I was just wondering.” At that moment he wished that Abrose would say anything but it was because he was drunk or blame it on something, but he was preparing for that answer. He caught the shot glass coming down the bar. His hiccups were gone but his words began to slur when he spoke. “Never mind just forgetaboutit.” He sipped down his vodka. “You thought youcould fuckup twice…inthespan of two days!” Just from his laugh you tell he was drunk.
"because I think needed it too. I wanted to kiss you back, wanted to do something I wasn't supposed to for once, even if it'll be one foggy mess in the morning." He replied softly, toying with the straw in his cup. He watched as Easton downed a few more drinks with a worried look before stopping the next shot after the vodka and taking it himself, grimacing at the burning sensation down his throat and nearly missing the table as he slammed down the glass. "Ugh that's awful! How do you do that over and over again?" He shook himself out and stood from his chair, focusing on his breath and tugging at Easton's shirt, gesturing him to get up. "Alright, come on. Let's go home before something bad happens." He muttered, shouldering his cloak and wrapping an arm around Easton's wait to help him up
“Then…Thenstay with me the night after last night. Ifyouwant no feelings attached. Justtonight and us? I promise I won’t throwup or anything. I’ll stop…ifyouwant me to.” Easton needed it too. He wanted to feel something other then pain for once. He had been feeling like crap and the fact that he said he wanted to kiss him back was enough. Easton pecked his lips, not wanting it to be forceful but sweet. He wrapping himself around Abrose to hold himself up. “If you insist…I’ll gohome and wecan act like nothingeverhappened.” He sputtered. “Again…” he was referring to last moonlit hours and how he would have to go through the same as daw We thing. “I mean whocares it’s not like I’ll rememberinthe morning anyway. I’m too intoxicated.” He laughed unnaturally because of the alcohol.
Abrise shook his head as he dragged Easton out of the tavern. "I'll stay but not without feeling's attach. You can't tell me yyu want to do something like that without feelings, I know you're not that heartless, captain. But I'll stay." He hummed softly at the kiss and shook his head with a laugh, letting himself enjoy the affection. "I honestly don't know if I'm flushed cuz of the alcohol or your kisses." He slowly reached up and pressed a kiss to Easton's cheek. "I'm honestly surprised, Captain that you don't remember me." He said softly, heart skipping a beat but continuing on, even if Easton didn't remember what happened in the morning. He'd tell him again then. "I thought you'd see right through the mask, both times. Should I be concerned about the kingdom's security if you can't tell who who somone is with and without a mask?"
