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palace_jonWho: Jon/Jude. Jon/Cillian. Jon/Dom
What: Jon learns more about his new environment. Poor sod.
Where: All over the building.
When: Couple of days after his last chat with Guy.
Heading slowly down the corridor, checking his com map and the numbers on the corners of the walls as he went, Jon headed for, well, he hoped he was headed for, the lift. If he could find the correct lift, then he could find the Administration offices and see if he could organize some classes and perhaps even a tour of the building. This confusion as to his whereabouts all the time was wearing on his nerves and he couldn't possibly become in any way effective until he had learned his way about. Even now, getting to the hostel was an exercise in frustration and he had to leave his room half an hour before he was due. It couldn't continue! Rounding the corner, he almost barreled straight into a tall man just coming out of one of the doors. "Oh! Oh! I am sorry."
Jude looked down at the smaller man nearly collided into his chest. "Whoa" he said as green eyes met blue, met soft pouting lips and pale, pale skin. This couldn't be? It's not... It looks like... Instead of wondering he thought he'd better introduce himself and find out if this really was the man that Guy had told him about. "Its fine" he said grinning, before introducing himself, sticking out a hand in greeting. "I'm Jude, and you are..."
Pleased that the man wasn't annoyed by his clumsiness, Jon grasped the proffered hand and shook it enthusiastically. "Brother Jon." he returned, fringe flopping in time with his vigorous shake. "Very pleased to make your acquaintance. May I ask . . . Jude, am I in the correct hallway for the lift to Administration, if you would be so kind?"
It IS him... Jude grinned with glee, realizing that Jon was still shaking his hand. He pried it away slowly before adding, "My friend Guy told me about you. He said you were.... nice." The implication in his voice was clear. "You're very pretty," he stared at Jon's lips, fantasizing, imagining. He snapped out of it quickly, answering the man's question; "Yeah, just go straight ahead and turn left at the second set of doors." he found it difficult to take his eyes off Jon, he was bloody gorgeous!
Brightening even more at the mention of Guy's name, Jon stepped back a little and smiled. "He's such a lovely man, isn't he? Guy? He has been ever so helpful and kind you see, knows such a lot of things. Most informative things." Jude was being very attentive, the look on his face similar to the one Guy often wore when they talked and Jon wondered if perhaps it were part of being a libertine, this close attention paid to another. Maybe they learned it in a class, he thought. It seemed as if the other man were memorizing Jon's face and listening intently to his words, which would make perfect work-related sense. "I was right." he said aloud, deciding he'd ask Guy about the other later. "That's good. Means I'm learning my way around at last! Thank you so much. Are you headed that way?"
"I am indeed" Jude grinned, scanning the other man's body as he spoke. "Would you like a guide?" Jude was quite happy to volunteer his services, especially when it meant staying in the company of such good looks. Now he knew why Guy had wanted to keep him away from him for so long; and now Jude knew why he had wanted him even before he had met him. Those lips. He shook his head, returning himself to the surface world again. "I would gladly accompany you."
Jon smiled happily and trotted alongside Jude as he strolled, ever so slowly, toward the corner. "You're a libertine, I take it?" he asked, confident of the nod he presently received. "And Guy is a friend, you said? Have you known one another long?" Not only was Guy his favourite subject right at the moment, but he was the only conversation point Jon could think of. Jude was an absolutely stunning creature and it was extremely difficult to think seriously with the abundance of firm, tanned flesh and rippling muscles on display.
Jude was displeased at all this talk of Guy, his rival in the bid for this young man's affection, but didn't show it. Instead he smiling winningly, noticing the young man's eyes gaze at his chest, "Yes. I'm a libertine." he replied, "And a fairly new one. Only been here a few months, but I've known him pretty much all the time I've been here." He paused, making sure they were actually on the right track, "So, have you and Guy had a chance to meet each other... properly?" He winked, hoping that he hadn't. He didn't want Guy to have the upper hand.
"Properly?" Jon stopped walking, momentarily confused. Then his face cleared. "Oh no, not properly. We simply ran into one another. In the hall. Rather like I just did with you." He thought for a moment, his smile brightening as he ventured a small joke. "I seem to make most of my acquaintances in hallways." he told Jude. "But I didn't drop anything on your foot, at least."
"No" Jude grinned, "Instead you nearly ran into me instead." He laughed, "No that I'm complaining or anything. It's not often I'm upset at having a pretty young man pressed tightly against me..."
"Oh?" Jon's face pinked with embarrassment. Would he ever become used to the freely-given flattery that abounded in this place without blushing. "I . . . umm . . . thank you." he managed. "You're very . . . very, erm, pretty, too."
Too cute Jude thought, unable to stop himself from reaching down and brushing a finger over those soft full lips, "Thank you" He purred looking intently at the man, "It means a lot coming from someone as lovely as yourself."
Momentarily mesmerized by his inexplicable fascination with the way Jude's mouth moved when he spoke, Jon didn't see the finger coming and when he felt it's gentle touch against his lips, his reaction was one of alarm and confusion. He leapt backward, heels hitting the skirting board and head impacting the plaster wall with a painful wallop. "Ow!" He rubbed at the back of his head, t-shirt riding up over his bare stomach. Remembering why he'd jumped in the first place, he looked up at Jude, embarrassment and confusion mingling on his face to make him look almost pleadingly at the other man. "Oh, I, I didn't mean . . .I'm . . ."
Jude stared at the expanse of skin of display, wanting to touch... stroke... yeah. His eyes leapt up as he realized what has happened, "Are you ok?" he said concerned, "Sounded like a nasty bump there." he moved forward to check and Jon stepped back, hitting himself off the wall again. Jude thought perhaps it was best to stay where he was.
"I'm fine. Really." Jon nodded enthusiastically to prove his words, stepping away from the wall and sideways around Jude to take a couple more steps further down the hall toward the lift. "Honestly, you just . . . startled me, is all. Not, well, not used to . . . to this ! " he waved his hands about. "All this touching and touching and . . . Oh, never mind." he slumped. "We just don't where I come from."
"As long as you're sure you're fine..." Jude trailed off, seeing the other man's embarrassment. He almost felt sorry for him. He walked forward trying to catch up to Jon, still unsure about how ok he really was.
Jon backpedaled. Jude was altogether too present, too there for his peace of mind right now. All that glorious, golden skin! Shaking his head to clear it of visio . . . Oh! Oh! It was him! Jon's face flamed and his eyes widened.
Jude stopped as he saw Jon's face flush, eyes widening in recognition. But I haven't seen him before! Jude was sure of it. So why was he acting like this? Jude had no idea.
Jon was blathering, guilt and shame painting his face bright pink and loosening his tongue without his knowledge. "I . . . you . . . Guy . . .fuck!" The word just . . . popped out and the instant it did, Jon finally realized that he was speaking aloud. "OhmyGod!" He used the worst expletive he'd ever heard. "I am so, so, sorry. I didn't mean to, you're very nice, Guy's very nice . . . . I just, mistake, door wrong." He couldn't stand it any more and with another quick, "So very sorry." he turned and fled, running around the corner and into the open door of the lift.
Guy? Me? Wrong door? a smile spread across his features, So that’s what the noise was! He couldn't wait to tell Guy.
He could understand why he was upset though, upset enough to swear... wow But Jude really wasn't all that bothered to be honest. Still, he reasoned, it was sweet that he was embarrassed, it was sweet that he cared. For some reason his embarrassment made him even more desirable. Oh yes, he thought, he would definitely try to *run* into him again soon.
**
Jon shot out of the lift door as soon as it opened, still breathing hard and his face as red as beetroot. Dear Lord, what is it about this place? He looked up finally, realizing that he was on the wrong floor again and then saw a large group of libertines moving down the hall toward the lift, toward him! Oh no, not again! Looking for refuge, he saw a glass door off to the right of the lift and, not caring where it led to, he pushed it open and hurried through. He was outside! It was a small courtyard, fenced off from the main area and was a simple arrangement of grass, pavers and chairs. The only drawback? He wasn't alone.
Cillian still isn't completely comfortable with being out and about alone, but he's managed to find a nice little alcove off of one of the entrances--it's fenced in and has only one entrance. And while granted that could mean he could be trapped in it, the closeness of the walls is actually very comforting. He's currently sat on the ground cross-legged, scribbling down thoughts in a notebook when he hears the door open. Head coming up and taking on a bit of a "deer caught in headlights" look, he sees a rather...frazzled...looking young man in very...interesting pants. "Hello?"
Well, he looked harmless enough. Cautiously, Jon took another step away from the door, nodding his head and smiling politely, if warily, at the young man. "Hello," he returned. "I'm Brother Jon."
Cillian blinks-- Brother Jon? Not that he'd never met brothers and fathers and what not--he'd come from a small village, there had been an abbey not far from them that served the entire distract. This young man just wasn't what Cillian would have expected. "I'm Cillian," he offers--the fact of Jon's identity actually putting him more at ease instantly. He could honestly say meeting a religious was probably the closest thing to something reminding him of home that he'd encountered since arriving (save for Kate).
"Nice to meet you." Jon moved closer to the chair, then changed his mind and pointed at a plot of ground close to where Cillian was. "You mind?" The young man smiled and shook his head, so Jon lowered himself onto the ground with his back against the bricks, the warmth from the sun penetrating the thin material of his t-shirt and going a long way toward helping him relax. He sat quietly for a couple of minutes, eyes closed and letting the tension wash out of him before he turned his head in Cillian's direction and offered, "I'm new. Keep getting lost."
Smiling softly at Jon's words, Cillian nods, chuckling. "I remember that, it was terrible when I first got here--still is sometimes, I'm not the best with directions. How long have you been here?"
"Just a few days." Jon sighed. "Feels like longer." He thought Cillian seemed very nice. Quiet and . . . non-threatening, even slightly nervous. But it was restful here, peaceful and he began to feel a lot more in control of himself. "It is confusing." he admitted. "I was on my way up to the Administration offices and lost my way. Can't even push the right buttons it seems." he said with a smile. "Did it take you long to learn the basics?"
"You should have seen me trying to get to class at first," Cillian laughs softly. "Even with a map I was hopeless." He thinks for a moment. "Few weeks? Though I still make sure to always have my map...I got so lost one day...ended up in a cafeteria with very good food and no idea how to get back to it again!"
Jon laughed at this and felt much better about his own poor effort. Then, looking at the other man in his jeans and sweater, he felt confident enough to venture, "And everyone is very nice, aren't they? Very . . . friendly?"
Turning his head slightly to the side, Cillian senses more behind that question, but he can't quite place it. After a moment, he nods--even his encounter with Jake didn't change the fact that most everyone he had run into here had been very nice when he'd gotten a chance to actually speak with them. "Yes, they are...very helpful...I'm rather shy though, so probably not the best one to gauge by. I have trouble approaching people sometimes."
Oh. So he wasn't the only one. Perhaps all the libertines behaved like Jude and, well, Guy. Father had said the folks at Palace would have different habits and customs, seemed he was right as usual. Jon would just have to learn to cope. "As do I." he told Cillian. "It's all very different from where I grew up. I'd never been away from the seminary before, you see. Are you from around here?" Jon settled himself more comfortably on the grass and looked at Cillian with friendly interest. He really should be getting upstairs, but this was such a nice, quiet place with good company and he was reluctant to stir.
"Oh no," Cillian says quickly, laughing. "I'm not--I wasn't raised in a seminary or anything, but it was a very small village and it's very different than Balize, especially different than Palace. I'd never been anywhere close to something like this before I came here. So, I can honestly say I sympathize."
Jon's smile was now fully bright and friendly, his expression once more returned to it's usual equanimity. "Good." he grinned. "Nice to know I'm not alone. I'm learning," he added "more and more each day, but still it's . . . frustrating not being able to do one's job because of something so silly and feeling so awkward all the time." He thought for a minute, then asked, "You work here? In Service?"
"It passes, somewhat--feeling awkward," Cillian assures him. "Once you get used to how things are here. Did something specific happen?" He smiles a bit when he's asked if he's in service. "Yes, I'm a libertine."
"You are? I mean, you are." Jon was flummoxed. Cillian was not at all like the libertines he'd encountered so far and it seemed to blow his theory about different customs right out of the water! But then, when he thought about it more, there logically had to be more than one set of behaviors, didn't there? That would explain a lot. He smiled at Cillian, beginning to think he'd found a new friend and perhaps even a confidante. "They're very . . . touchy, some of them." he confessed. "The libertines here, I mean. Kissing and . . . things. Me, I . . . they . . ." he shrugged. "or perhaps I just imagine it."
Brow furrowing a bit, Cillian supposes that is true--he's had less experience with them being touchy with him, he supposes it has to do with how shy and standoffish he himself could be. "Some of them can be," he finally agrees. "You're obviously surprised that I am...I guess it has to do with how long you've been here and where you come from as much as anything else. I'm sure you're not imagining anything. I tend to not touch without invitation...my Talent..." he shrugs.
"Oh, you have a Talent?" Jon was intrigued. He'd been Tested, of course and found to have one himself, but possession of a Talent counted for little in monastic life and he knew nothing about it beyond it's name. "A touching one." he considered it. "Yes, I can see how it would make you hold back. Is it difficult to manage?"
That was a complicated question again, given what Jake had done to his shields--though he was slowly getting them stronger again. "Sometimes. I was taught to shield when I came here, which has made it easier, somewhat." The boy smiles softly.
"Oh yes, I can see that would be very useful." Jon chewed his bottom lip. "I intend to take classes." he told Cillian "In fact, I was on my way up to Admin when I was . . . umm, lost. Maybe I should ask about that as well." He was almost musing aloud now. "Not that mine's a problem per se . . ."
Regarding Jon for a moment, Cillian decides to just ask. "You have one as well?" he inquires, curious despite himself.
"Umm, yes." Jon was distracted by thoughts of classes and lists of things to do and that he really ought to think about moving, going upstairs and organizing something. He gave himself a mental shake and smiled apologetically at Cillian. "Charisma." he said. "Or something like that. Never paid too much attention." he confessed somewhat sheepishly.
"Charisma," Cillian repeats--and while he gets the basic of what charisma is supposed to be, he's not about to even claim to know what it would mean in a Talent, and he's not sure he should ask Jon either. "It sounds...interesting."
"I don't think it is." Jon wiped the grass off his trousers as he reluctantly got to his feet. "I doesn't do anything so far as I can tell." He smiled down at Cillian. "Well, I must go. And I shan't offer to shake hands. I do hope we meet again though. I'd really like that. Fellow rural and all that."
"Probably best," Cillian says looking up at him. "Having more trouble controlling it lately, you might share more than you want to...it was nice meeting you...is there a chapel or something here? That seems like something I should have known..."
"Yes, yes, there is." Jon beamed enthusiastically. "Off the reception area and to the left of the restaurant doors, down the stairs. It's small, but it's wonderful. Very peaceful and calm. You can find me there most mornings." he enthused. "That is, if you'd like to."
"I think I'd like that actually," Cillian says honestly--peaceful and calm. He could use peaceful and calm right now. "Or you could email me some time and we could grab a bite to eat."
"I'd love to." Jon almost reached out and grabbed Cillian's hand in his delight. "I shall. I most definitely shall!" Feeling much, much better about things, he was more than ready to face the perils of the lift and try once again to locate the Administration offices. Smiling again as he moved toward the glass door, he waved to Cillian and said, "See you."
Waving back, Cillian is still smiling softly as he watches Jon go away, turning back to his notebook a moment later with much less frenzied writing. Meeting Jon had actually lifted his spirits quite a bit.
**
Dominic felt like someone had definitely granted his wish for a lighthearted day when the religious boy every one had been talking about showed up in his office. As they made their way into the lift, Dom wore a huge grin as he enthusiastically endorsed the classes Jon had indicated he wanted to take. "Oh mate! Those are a bloody brilliant way to start. Get your foot on the ground runnin' and all that. And I personally can vouch for the instructors. Quite knowledgeable indeed." He shepherded Jon into the lift, brushing against the other man's chest as he hit the button for Public.
Jon didn't quite jump at the contact, his nerves were now a bit steadier, thank goodness, but the little furrow between his eyebrows did reappear momentarily. "I'm glad to hear it." he said politely, moving a little further back. "And I am very grateful for your kind offer." he smiled at Dom "I'm told everyone has this problem finding their way around and will 'sort it out eventually', but I cannot possibly be effective in my task if I am constantly getting lost. I do so appreciate it."
"Are the instructors all your friends, then?" he asked, wanting to be friendly with this nice, if quirkily-dressed, young man.
"Oh I'd say more than friends really. Friends would be ... much too cold. Bosom pals might be best, ya know?" Dom smirked at bit, then leaned closer to whisper with a raspy voice in Jon's ear. "See my theory is that they deliberately designed Palace to be a bit confusing so that folk would be encouraged to be friendly. You know lend a helping hand?" Leaning back, Dom eyed Jon carefully. "You chilled mate?" Brushing against a nipple under the tight t-shirt with a quick finger "Hate for you to be uncomfortable."
Staring down at the finger that was touching, Jon said, as politely as he could manage, "Errm no, I'm not." Gathering his courage, he gently pushed Dom's hand aside. "P. . p. . . please, don't do that?"
Easily, Dom moved his hand away. The lift stopped as they arrived at Public. "Ah, one of my favorite floors. So many things to see and people to do down here. C'mon, let's head over toward the pool and library. 'Spect you'll like the library. We have quite a collection there." He led Jon by the Palace Gift Store. "I won't take you in the store but you can see from the window all the amazingly wonderful things that are available. Maybe you'll find somethin' to send to your old mates back at the semen-nary."
"I . . . umm . . . yes. Thank you." Jon barely glanced into the Gift Store he was so taken aback by the abrupt switch. He noticed out of the corner of his eye something akin to his feather duster in the corner display window, but Dom was moving too fast for a proper look and so he hurried to catch up instead.
"Seminary." he said as nicely as he could. "It's like a school and we Brothers live next door in the monastery." Dom rounded a corner with Jon hard on his heels, still talking. "I love to read." he added. "Knowing the whereabouts of the library will come in very handy."
"Ah, so you lived with a bunch of men eh? Nice. Bet that was interesting in the morning. Ah, one of my favorite places, the library." Opening the door, Dom led Jon into the room. Pulling him gently into the center so he could see the books all around, Dom led him over to some of the antique books on display. "This one is usually quite popular for the Anatomy students." He flipped to a page featuring two different couples, one pair male/female and the second two men. "This particular rending of a variant of the Yawning Karma Sutra position is quite detailed. See how finely the muscles on the man whose legs rise in the yawn are detailed. And the man penetrating - you can practically feel the entry can't you? Just really quite life like..."
Jon's eyes bugged but he couldn't make himself look away. This book had pictures of people . . . doing that! Desperate to think about something else, to look at anything but the finely rendered artwork, the detailed artwork, he looked around the room. Surely the entire library wasn't . . . no. It couldn't be. Could it? "Ahh, are there others?" he choked out, ears pink. "Subjects. Books. Other things that are not that?"
"Of course, what do you think we do all day?" Dom chuckled shaking his head. "My goodness, what you must be thinking. Quite the cheeky fellow aren't you?" Dom led him over to another rack. "There's some lovely books here. Many classics. Poetry. Fiction. Non-fiction. I just recently read this quite amazing book about the Marquis de Sade. Read that one?"
Having relaxed at hearing the words poetry and fiction, Jon was quite unprepared to hear the Marquis' name mentioned in the same breath. "I've, umm, heard." he said, cursing himself over being so continually flustered. "Not my kind of reading." he smiled apologetically. Contrary to Dom's words, Jon was beginning to believe that was precisely what folk around here did all day. And when they weren’t, they were thinking about it, talking about it and looking at it. He suppressed a sigh. "You mentioned a pool?" he asked hopefully. A nice, ordinary swimming pool was just the ticket!
"All done with the library? I'm sure you'll find plenty to like here." A young man walked by them in his Palace pants. Seeing Dom he gave a wave and blew a kiss before quickly eying Jon and blowing him one too. Dominic grabbed Jon and pulled him toward the doors. "See we're a friendly lot. Really just like family." He opened the doors and led his new friend to a nearby set of doors. Opening them the light scent of chlorinated water signaled the pool. "So, here's the pool. You've got lap swimming areas to the left, and general fun and games to the right."
Jon looked about, delighted by what he saw. A good sized pool, far larger than the tiny one attached to the seminary, a light airy patio which looked as if it led out into the gardens, even an open door through which he could see exercise equipment. This was much better and his smile conveyed his approval. "Marvelous." he told Dom. "Very good indeed."
"Isn't it? In the summer, loads of people like to hang out on the patio, sometimes there's a little party. C'mon, I'll show you the rest." Dom leads Jon into the spa area, pointing out where massages could be obtained, saunas, and finally into the changing rooms. All around them are naked and half-naked men and women, all mingling easily, chatting as they go about getting dressed or showering. "So, you can just check out at locker when you come down, or of course change in your room. You wanna meet some of the swimming instructors. Nice lads."
He stood his ground. Only just, but he stood. Jon fixed his eyes on the wall light opposite and stared at it, not looking at [not] the parade of tanned, nubile flesh that was tantalizing the edges of his vision. Naked. All . . . naked!
And it wasn't that so much, Jon realized even as the thought came. He'd seen naked before, monks and Brothers and even Lay staff at the seminary, but this was youth and . . . He gave himself a hard mental shake and tried to concentrate one what Dom was saying. A lean-faced, dark-haired man with light eyes and no towel wandered through his line of sight and smiled at him. Jon simply stared.
Dominic bounced on his feet enjoying this tour quite a bit himself. He winked at Billy who flashed a pale rump before scarpering off. Deciding that he'd been rushing Jon through his tour, Dom decided they could linger here as long as the young man wanted.
Now that Jon's eyes were moving, he couldn't seem to stop them. Everywhere was an abundance of taut, tanned skin, reams of it and his breath was becoming hard to find, his skin breaking out into a damp sweat and beading on his temples and his heart beginning to race.
Dominic moved to sit down on a nearby bench, giving Jon all the time he needed. So, wonder how much Guy will pay me to find out that Jon likes the pool? Bet I could get Jude to pay more.
He couldn't stand it. The bodies everywhere, such beautiful, vital bodies. He looked helplessly in Dom's direction, unable to speak, unable to move on his own. How do they stand it, he wondered desolately?
They don't have vows to keep.
Seeing a rather sad look cross Jon's face, Dominic rises as he takes pity on the guy. "Hey? You ready for more tour? C'mon. You'll can come back soon." Gently he pulls Jon toward the exit doors. "Still want to take you by the classrooms."
Jon nodded. He was struck mute, simply couldn't find words and let Dom guide him out the pool doors and toward the elevator, his mind turned to internal thoughts as he contemplated not only the rest of this tour, but the rest of his term of office here at Palace. How ever was he going to survive it?
What: Jon learns more about his new environment. Poor sod.
Where: All over the building.
When: Couple of days after his last chat with Guy.
Heading slowly down the corridor, checking his com map and the numbers on the corners of the walls as he went, Jon headed for, well, he hoped he was headed for, the lift. If he could find the correct lift, then he could find the Administration offices and see if he could organize some classes and perhaps even a tour of the building. This confusion as to his whereabouts all the time was wearing on his nerves and he couldn't possibly become in any way effective until he had learned his way about. Even now, getting to the hostel was an exercise in frustration and he had to leave his room half an hour before he was due. It couldn't continue! Rounding the corner, he almost barreled straight into a tall man just coming out of one of the doors. "Oh! Oh! I am sorry."
Jude looked down at the smaller man nearly collided into his chest. "Whoa" he said as green eyes met blue, met soft pouting lips and pale, pale skin. This couldn't be? It's not... It looks like... Instead of wondering he thought he'd better introduce himself and find out if this really was the man that Guy had told him about. "Its fine" he said grinning, before introducing himself, sticking out a hand in greeting. "I'm Jude, and you are..."
Pleased that the man wasn't annoyed by his clumsiness, Jon grasped the proffered hand and shook it enthusiastically. "Brother Jon." he returned, fringe flopping in time with his vigorous shake. "Very pleased to make your acquaintance. May I ask . . . Jude, am I in the correct hallway for the lift to Administration, if you would be so kind?"
It IS him... Jude grinned with glee, realizing that Jon was still shaking his hand. He pried it away slowly before adding, "My friend Guy told me about you. He said you were.... nice." The implication in his voice was clear. "You're very pretty," he stared at Jon's lips, fantasizing, imagining. He snapped out of it quickly, answering the man's question; "Yeah, just go straight ahead and turn left at the second set of doors." he found it difficult to take his eyes off Jon, he was bloody gorgeous!
Brightening even more at the mention of Guy's name, Jon stepped back a little and smiled. "He's such a lovely man, isn't he? Guy? He has been ever so helpful and kind you see, knows such a lot of things. Most informative things." Jude was being very attentive, the look on his face similar to the one Guy often wore when they talked and Jon wondered if perhaps it were part of being a libertine, this close attention paid to another. Maybe they learned it in a class, he thought. It seemed as if the other man were memorizing Jon's face and listening intently to his words, which would make perfect work-related sense. "I was right." he said aloud, deciding he'd ask Guy about the other later. "That's good. Means I'm learning my way around at last! Thank you so much. Are you headed that way?"
"I am indeed" Jude grinned, scanning the other man's body as he spoke. "Would you like a guide?" Jude was quite happy to volunteer his services, especially when it meant staying in the company of such good looks. Now he knew why Guy had wanted to keep him away from him for so long; and now Jude knew why he had wanted him even before he had met him. Those lips. He shook his head, returning himself to the surface world again. "I would gladly accompany you."
Jon smiled happily and trotted alongside Jude as he strolled, ever so slowly, toward the corner. "You're a libertine, I take it?" he asked, confident of the nod he presently received. "And Guy is a friend, you said? Have you known one another long?" Not only was Guy his favourite subject right at the moment, but he was the only conversation point Jon could think of. Jude was an absolutely stunning creature and it was extremely difficult to think seriously with the abundance of firm, tanned flesh and rippling muscles on display.
Jude was displeased at all this talk of Guy, his rival in the bid for this young man's affection, but didn't show it. Instead he smiling winningly, noticing the young man's eyes gaze at his chest, "Yes. I'm a libertine." he replied, "And a fairly new one. Only been here a few months, but I've known him pretty much all the time I've been here." He paused, making sure they were actually on the right track, "So, have you and Guy had a chance to meet each other... properly?" He winked, hoping that he hadn't. He didn't want Guy to have the upper hand.
"Properly?" Jon stopped walking, momentarily confused. Then his face cleared. "Oh no, not properly. We simply ran into one another. In the hall. Rather like I just did with you." He thought for a moment, his smile brightening as he ventured a small joke. "I seem to make most of my acquaintances in hallways." he told Jude. "But I didn't drop anything on your foot, at least."
"No" Jude grinned, "Instead you nearly ran into me instead." He laughed, "No that I'm complaining or anything. It's not often I'm upset at having a pretty young man pressed tightly against me..."
"Oh?" Jon's face pinked with embarrassment. Would he ever become used to the freely-given flattery that abounded in this place without blushing. "I . . . umm . . . thank you." he managed. "You're very . . . very, erm, pretty, too."
Too cute Jude thought, unable to stop himself from reaching down and brushing a finger over those soft full lips, "Thank you" He purred looking intently at the man, "It means a lot coming from someone as lovely as yourself."
Momentarily mesmerized by his inexplicable fascination with the way Jude's mouth moved when he spoke, Jon didn't see the finger coming and when he felt it's gentle touch against his lips, his reaction was one of alarm and confusion. He leapt backward, heels hitting the skirting board and head impacting the plaster wall with a painful wallop. "Ow!" He rubbed at the back of his head, t-shirt riding up over his bare stomach. Remembering why he'd jumped in the first place, he looked up at Jude, embarrassment and confusion mingling on his face to make him look almost pleadingly at the other man. "Oh, I, I didn't mean . . .I'm . . ."
Jude stared at the expanse of skin of display, wanting to touch... stroke... yeah. His eyes leapt up as he realized what has happened, "Are you ok?" he said concerned, "Sounded like a nasty bump there." he moved forward to check and Jon stepped back, hitting himself off the wall again. Jude thought perhaps it was best to stay where he was.
"I'm fine. Really." Jon nodded enthusiastically to prove his words, stepping away from the wall and sideways around Jude to take a couple more steps further down the hall toward the lift. "Honestly, you just . . . startled me, is all. Not, well, not used to . . . to this ! " he waved his hands about. "All this touching and touching and . . . Oh, never mind." he slumped. "We just don't where I come from."
"As long as you're sure you're fine..." Jude trailed off, seeing the other man's embarrassment. He almost felt sorry for him. He walked forward trying to catch up to Jon, still unsure about how ok he really was.
Jon backpedaled. Jude was altogether too present, too there for his peace of mind right now. All that glorious, golden skin! Shaking his head to clear it of visio . . . Oh! Oh! It was him! Jon's face flamed and his eyes widened.
Jude stopped as he saw Jon's face flush, eyes widening in recognition. But I haven't seen him before! Jude was sure of it. So why was he acting like this? Jude had no idea.
Jon was blathering, guilt and shame painting his face bright pink and loosening his tongue without his knowledge. "I . . . you . . . Guy . . .fuck!" The word just . . . popped out and the instant it did, Jon finally realized that he was speaking aloud. "OhmyGod!" He used the worst expletive he'd ever heard. "I am so, so, sorry. I didn't mean to, you're very nice, Guy's very nice . . . . I just, mistake, door wrong." He couldn't stand it any more and with another quick, "So very sorry." he turned and fled, running around the corner and into the open door of the lift.
Guy? Me? Wrong door? a smile spread across his features, So that’s what the noise was! He couldn't wait to tell Guy.
He could understand why he was upset though, upset enough to swear... wow But Jude really wasn't all that bothered to be honest. Still, he reasoned, it was sweet that he was embarrassed, it was sweet that he cared. For some reason his embarrassment made him even more desirable. Oh yes, he thought, he would definitely try to *run* into him again soon.
**
Jon shot out of the lift door as soon as it opened, still breathing hard and his face as red as beetroot. Dear Lord, what is it about this place? He looked up finally, realizing that he was on the wrong floor again and then saw a large group of libertines moving down the hall toward the lift, toward him! Oh no, not again! Looking for refuge, he saw a glass door off to the right of the lift and, not caring where it led to, he pushed it open and hurried through. He was outside! It was a small courtyard, fenced off from the main area and was a simple arrangement of grass, pavers and chairs. The only drawback? He wasn't alone.
Cillian still isn't completely comfortable with being out and about alone, but he's managed to find a nice little alcove off of one of the entrances--it's fenced in and has only one entrance. And while granted that could mean he could be trapped in it, the closeness of the walls is actually very comforting. He's currently sat on the ground cross-legged, scribbling down thoughts in a notebook when he hears the door open. Head coming up and taking on a bit of a "deer caught in headlights" look, he sees a rather...frazzled...looking young man in very...interesting pants. "Hello?"
Well, he looked harmless enough. Cautiously, Jon took another step away from the door, nodding his head and smiling politely, if warily, at the young man. "Hello," he returned. "I'm Brother Jon."
Cillian blinks-- Brother Jon? Not that he'd never met brothers and fathers and what not--he'd come from a small village, there had been an abbey not far from them that served the entire distract. This young man just wasn't what Cillian would have expected. "I'm Cillian," he offers--the fact of Jon's identity actually putting him more at ease instantly. He could honestly say meeting a religious was probably the closest thing to something reminding him of home that he'd encountered since arriving (save for Kate).
"Nice to meet you." Jon moved closer to the chair, then changed his mind and pointed at a plot of ground close to where Cillian was. "You mind?" The young man smiled and shook his head, so Jon lowered himself onto the ground with his back against the bricks, the warmth from the sun penetrating the thin material of his t-shirt and going a long way toward helping him relax. He sat quietly for a couple of minutes, eyes closed and letting the tension wash out of him before he turned his head in Cillian's direction and offered, "I'm new. Keep getting lost."
Smiling softly at Jon's words, Cillian nods, chuckling. "I remember that, it was terrible when I first got here--still is sometimes, I'm not the best with directions. How long have you been here?"
"Just a few days." Jon sighed. "Feels like longer." He thought Cillian seemed very nice. Quiet and . . . non-threatening, even slightly nervous. But it was restful here, peaceful and he began to feel a lot more in control of himself. "It is confusing." he admitted. "I was on my way up to the Administration offices and lost my way. Can't even push the right buttons it seems." he said with a smile. "Did it take you long to learn the basics?"
"You should have seen me trying to get to class at first," Cillian laughs softly. "Even with a map I was hopeless." He thinks for a moment. "Few weeks? Though I still make sure to always have my map...I got so lost one day...ended up in a cafeteria with very good food and no idea how to get back to it again!"
Jon laughed at this and felt much better about his own poor effort. Then, looking at the other man in his jeans and sweater, he felt confident enough to venture, "And everyone is very nice, aren't they? Very . . . friendly?"
Turning his head slightly to the side, Cillian senses more behind that question, but he can't quite place it. After a moment, he nods--even his encounter with Jake didn't change the fact that most everyone he had run into here had been very nice when he'd gotten a chance to actually speak with them. "Yes, they are...very helpful...I'm rather shy though, so probably not the best one to gauge by. I have trouble approaching people sometimes."
Oh. So he wasn't the only one. Perhaps all the libertines behaved like Jude and, well, Guy. Father had said the folks at Palace would have different habits and customs, seemed he was right as usual. Jon would just have to learn to cope. "As do I." he told Cillian. "It's all very different from where I grew up. I'd never been away from the seminary before, you see. Are you from around here?" Jon settled himself more comfortably on the grass and looked at Cillian with friendly interest. He really should be getting upstairs, but this was such a nice, quiet place with good company and he was reluctant to stir.
"Oh no," Cillian says quickly, laughing. "I'm not--I wasn't raised in a seminary or anything, but it was a very small village and it's very different than Balize, especially different than Palace. I'd never been anywhere close to something like this before I came here. So, I can honestly say I sympathize."
Jon's smile was now fully bright and friendly, his expression once more returned to it's usual equanimity. "Good." he grinned. "Nice to know I'm not alone. I'm learning," he added "more and more each day, but still it's . . . frustrating not being able to do one's job because of something so silly and feeling so awkward all the time." He thought for a minute, then asked, "You work here? In Service?"
"It passes, somewhat--feeling awkward," Cillian assures him. "Once you get used to how things are here. Did something specific happen?" He smiles a bit when he's asked if he's in service. "Yes, I'm a libertine."
"You are? I mean, you are." Jon was flummoxed. Cillian was not at all like the libertines he'd encountered so far and it seemed to blow his theory about different customs right out of the water! But then, when he thought about it more, there logically had to be more than one set of behaviors, didn't there? That would explain a lot. He smiled at Cillian, beginning to think he'd found a new friend and perhaps even a confidante. "They're very . . . touchy, some of them." he confessed. "The libertines here, I mean. Kissing and . . . things. Me, I . . . they . . ." he shrugged. "or perhaps I just imagine it."
Brow furrowing a bit, Cillian supposes that is true--he's had less experience with them being touchy with him, he supposes it has to do with how shy and standoffish he himself could be. "Some of them can be," he finally agrees. "You're obviously surprised that I am...I guess it has to do with how long you've been here and where you come from as much as anything else. I'm sure you're not imagining anything. I tend to not touch without invitation...my Talent..." he shrugs.
"Oh, you have a Talent?" Jon was intrigued. He'd been Tested, of course and found to have one himself, but possession of a Talent counted for little in monastic life and he knew nothing about it beyond it's name. "A touching one." he considered it. "Yes, I can see how it would make you hold back. Is it difficult to manage?"
That was a complicated question again, given what Jake had done to his shields--though he was slowly getting them stronger again. "Sometimes. I was taught to shield when I came here, which has made it easier, somewhat." The boy smiles softly.
"Oh yes, I can see that would be very useful." Jon chewed his bottom lip. "I intend to take classes." he told Cillian "In fact, I was on my way up to Admin when I was . . . umm, lost. Maybe I should ask about that as well." He was almost musing aloud now. "Not that mine's a problem per se . . ."
Regarding Jon for a moment, Cillian decides to just ask. "You have one as well?" he inquires, curious despite himself.
"Umm, yes." Jon was distracted by thoughts of classes and lists of things to do and that he really ought to think about moving, going upstairs and organizing something. He gave himself a mental shake and smiled apologetically at Cillian. "Charisma." he said. "Or something like that. Never paid too much attention." he confessed somewhat sheepishly.
"Charisma," Cillian repeats--and while he gets the basic of what charisma is supposed to be, he's not about to even claim to know what it would mean in a Talent, and he's not sure he should ask Jon either. "It sounds...interesting."
"I don't think it is." Jon wiped the grass off his trousers as he reluctantly got to his feet. "I doesn't do anything so far as I can tell." He smiled down at Cillian. "Well, I must go. And I shan't offer to shake hands. I do hope we meet again though. I'd really like that. Fellow rural and all that."
"Probably best," Cillian says looking up at him. "Having more trouble controlling it lately, you might share more than you want to...it was nice meeting you...is there a chapel or something here? That seems like something I should have known..."
"Yes, yes, there is." Jon beamed enthusiastically. "Off the reception area and to the left of the restaurant doors, down the stairs. It's small, but it's wonderful. Very peaceful and calm. You can find me there most mornings." he enthused. "That is, if you'd like to."
"I think I'd like that actually," Cillian says honestly--peaceful and calm. He could use peaceful and calm right now. "Or you could email me some time and we could grab a bite to eat."
"I'd love to." Jon almost reached out and grabbed Cillian's hand in his delight. "I shall. I most definitely shall!" Feeling much, much better about things, he was more than ready to face the perils of the lift and try once again to locate the Administration offices. Smiling again as he moved toward the glass door, he waved to Cillian and said, "See you."
Waving back, Cillian is still smiling softly as he watches Jon go away, turning back to his notebook a moment later with much less frenzied writing. Meeting Jon had actually lifted his spirits quite a bit.
**
Dominic felt like someone had definitely granted his wish for a lighthearted day when the religious boy every one had been talking about showed up in his office. As they made their way into the lift, Dom wore a huge grin as he enthusiastically endorsed the classes Jon had indicated he wanted to take. "Oh mate! Those are a bloody brilliant way to start. Get your foot on the ground runnin' and all that. And I personally can vouch for the instructors. Quite knowledgeable indeed." He shepherded Jon into the lift, brushing against the other man's chest as he hit the button for Public.
Jon didn't quite jump at the contact, his nerves were now a bit steadier, thank goodness, but the little furrow between his eyebrows did reappear momentarily. "I'm glad to hear it." he said politely, moving a little further back. "And I am very grateful for your kind offer." he smiled at Dom "I'm told everyone has this problem finding their way around and will 'sort it out eventually', but I cannot possibly be effective in my task if I am constantly getting lost. I do so appreciate it."
"Are the instructors all your friends, then?" he asked, wanting to be friendly with this nice, if quirkily-dressed, young man.
"Oh I'd say more than friends really. Friends would be ... much too cold. Bosom pals might be best, ya know?" Dom smirked at bit, then leaned closer to whisper with a raspy voice in Jon's ear. "See my theory is that they deliberately designed Palace to be a bit confusing so that folk would be encouraged to be friendly. You know lend a helping hand?" Leaning back, Dom eyed Jon carefully. "You chilled mate?" Brushing against a nipple under the tight t-shirt with a quick finger "Hate for you to be uncomfortable."
Staring down at the finger that was touching, Jon said, as politely as he could manage, "Errm no, I'm not." Gathering his courage, he gently pushed Dom's hand aside. "P. . p. . . please, don't do that?"
Easily, Dom moved his hand away. The lift stopped as they arrived at Public. "Ah, one of my favorite floors. So many things to see and people to do down here. C'mon, let's head over toward the pool and library. 'Spect you'll like the library. We have quite a collection there." He led Jon by the Palace Gift Store. "I won't take you in the store but you can see from the window all the amazingly wonderful things that are available. Maybe you'll find somethin' to send to your old mates back at the semen-nary."
"I . . . umm . . . yes. Thank you." Jon barely glanced into the Gift Store he was so taken aback by the abrupt switch. He noticed out of the corner of his eye something akin to his feather duster in the corner display window, but Dom was moving too fast for a proper look and so he hurried to catch up instead.
"Seminary." he said as nicely as he could. "It's like a school and we Brothers live next door in the monastery." Dom rounded a corner with Jon hard on his heels, still talking. "I love to read." he added. "Knowing the whereabouts of the library will come in very handy."
"Ah, so you lived with a bunch of men eh? Nice. Bet that was interesting in the morning. Ah, one of my favorite places, the library." Opening the door, Dom led Jon into the room. Pulling him gently into the center so he could see the books all around, Dom led him over to some of the antique books on display. "This one is usually quite popular for the Anatomy students." He flipped to a page featuring two different couples, one pair male/female and the second two men. "This particular rending of a variant of the Yawning Karma Sutra position is quite detailed. See how finely the muscles on the man whose legs rise in the yawn are detailed. And the man penetrating - you can practically feel the entry can't you? Just really quite life like..."
Jon's eyes bugged but he couldn't make himself look away. This book had pictures of people . . . doing that! Desperate to think about something else, to look at anything but the finely rendered artwork, the detailed artwork, he looked around the room. Surely the entire library wasn't . . . no. It couldn't be. Could it? "Ahh, are there others?" he choked out, ears pink. "Subjects. Books. Other things that are not that?"
"Of course, what do you think we do all day?" Dom chuckled shaking his head. "My goodness, what you must be thinking. Quite the cheeky fellow aren't you?" Dom led him over to another rack. "There's some lovely books here. Many classics. Poetry. Fiction. Non-fiction. I just recently read this quite amazing book about the Marquis de Sade. Read that one?"
Having relaxed at hearing the words poetry and fiction, Jon was quite unprepared to hear the Marquis' name mentioned in the same breath. "I've, umm, heard." he said, cursing himself over being so continually flustered. "Not my kind of reading." he smiled apologetically. Contrary to Dom's words, Jon was beginning to believe that was precisely what folk around here did all day. And when they weren’t, they were thinking about it, talking about it and looking at it. He suppressed a sigh. "You mentioned a pool?" he asked hopefully. A nice, ordinary swimming pool was just the ticket!
"All done with the library? I'm sure you'll find plenty to like here." A young man walked by them in his Palace pants. Seeing Dom he gave a wave and blew a kiss before quickly eying Jon and blowing him one too. Dominic grabbed Jon and pulled him toward the doors. "See we're a friendly lot. Really just like family." He opened the doors and led his new friend to a nearby set of doors. Opening them the light scent of chlorinated water signaled the pool. "So, here's the pool. You've got lap swimming areas to the left, and general fun and games to the right."
Jon looked about, delighted by what he saw. A good sized pool, far larger than the tiny one attached to the seminary, a light airy patio which looked as if it led out into the gardens, even an open door through which he could see exercise equipment. This was much better and his smile conveyed his approval. "Marvelous." he told Dom. "Very good indeed."
"Isn't it? In the summer, loads of people like to hang out on the patio, sometimes there's a little party. C'mon, I'll show you the rest." Dom leads Jon into the spa area, pointing out where massages could be obtained, saunas, and finally into the changing rooms. All around them are naked and half-naked men and women, all mingling easily, chatting as they go about getting dressed or showering. "So, you can just check out at locker when you come down, or of course change in your room. You wanna meet some of the swimming instructors. Nice lads."
He stood his ground. Only just, but he stood. Jon fixed his eyes on the wall light opposite and stared at it, not looking at [not] the parade of tanned, nubile flesh that was tantalizing the edges of his vision. Naked. All . . . naked!
And it wasn't that so much, Jon realized even as the thought came. He'd seen naked before, monks and Brothers and even Lay staff at the seminary, but this was youth and . . . He gave himself a hard mental shake and tried to concentrate one what Dom was saying. A lean-faced, dark-haired man with light eyes and no towel wandered through his line of sight and smiled at him. Jon simply stared.
Dominic bounced on his feet enjoying this tour quite a bit himself. He winked at Billy who flashed a pale rump before scarpering off. Deciding that he'd been rushing Jon through his tour, Dom decided they could linger here as long as the young man wanted.
Now that Jon's eyes were moving, he couldn't seem to stop them. Everywhere was an abundance of taut, tanned skin, reams of it and his breath was becoming hard to find, his skin breaking out into a damp sweat and beading on his temples and his heart beginning to race.
Dominic moved to sit down on a nearby bench, giving Jon all the time he needed. So, wonder how much Guy will pay me to find out that Jon likes the pool? Bet I could get Jude to pay more.
He couldn't stand it. The bodies everywhere, such beautiful, vital bodies. He looked helplessly in Dom's direction, unable to speak, unable to move on his own. How do they stand it, he wondered desolately?
They don't have vows to keep.
Seeing a rather sad look cross Jon's face, Dominic rises as he takes pity on the guy. "Hey? You ready for more tour? C'mon. You'll can come back soon." Gently he pulls Jon toward the exit doors. "Still want to take you by the classrooms."
Jon nodded. He was struck mute, simply couldn't find words and let Dom guide him out the pool doors and toward the elevator, his mind turned to internal thoughts as he contemplated not only the rest of this tour, but the rest of his term of office here at Palace. How ever was he going to survive it?
