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It was the fifteenth and Chris had gone back and forth, back and forth about whether he should see Jade or if he should hire someone else. Maybe someone else entirely, not even from Moulin. In the end he had remained with the familiar and waited for Jade to arrive. He had opened a bottle of wine and had gotten some cheeses and meats, and then he did his best to not crawl out of his skin. He hadn't seen the young man since the disaster of the gastronomic society's event and he'd been sick about it ever since. He was less bothered by Jade's revelation than he likely ought to be. What had him so upset was the realization that there was something growing between them. Or maybe Jade didn't feel it at all...maybe it was only Chris who was deluding himself.
Chris had been in the Vatican archives for days, only emerging to take lunch or get some sleep. He wasn't making any groundbreaking discovery, but that did not bother him. He was overwhelmed by the beauty of the texts he was seeing. He was wallowing in the glory fo the Word.
But it was Sunday and the church archives were closed for the holy day. Chris had sat through Mass and then had enjoyed people watching a bit. He'd gotten to see the procession of Cardinals, even. But then he'd been politely told to go enjoy Rome. And so he had wandered a bit, looking here and there, enjoying art and sculpture and people of all sorts. He had found himself after some time at a lovely little bistro at a table outside where he enjoyed the lovely autumn evening. He had eaten his dinner and sat with a glass of wine watching the tourists. His table was the only spot with an empty seat and people around him chatted and carried on. A man walked out and Chris took note, leaning forward to catch his eye.
"You can take this seat," he offered, then repeated himself in Italian. All the languages he spoke and he couldn't help in the impulsive moment to speak English first.
But it was Sunday and the church archives were closed for the holy day. Chris had sat through Mass and then had enjoyed people watching a bit. He'd gotten to see the procession of Cardinals, even. But then he'd been politely told to go enjoy Rome. And so he had wandered a bit, looking here and there, enjoying art and sculpture and people of all sorts. He had found himself after some time at a lovely little bistro at a table outside where he enjoyed the lovely autumn evening. He had eaten his dinner and sat with a glass of wine watching the tourists. His table was the only spot with an empty seat and people around him chatted and carried on. A man walked out and Chris took note, leaning forward to catch his eye.
"You can take this seat," he offered, then repeated himself in Italian. All the languages he spoke and he couldn't help in the impulsive moment to speak English first.
It was the 15th and every 15th Chris set out to find release. Once a month was really all he needed to keep focused and sane. And of course he paid for it- his few relationships had been disastrous and he realized it was simply easier to see Michel or Annabeth and simply have it done with. No one fancied there were feelings, no one expected dates or other comings together which were so terribly inconvenient. No, his arrangement suited him well.
And so the 15th he called Moulin with his newfound information that he could have his escort come to his home. Even better. Even better. But as he was about to ask for Michel he found himself asking for Jade instead. He'd quite like the young man who had challenged him a bit. In fact, Chris's thoughts had been cast to that memory a few times. Yes, Jade would do.
And so he was ready Friday night with a pot of tea and a freshly made bed.
And so the 15th he called Moulin with his newfound information that he could have his escort come to his home. Even better. Even better. But as he was about to ask for Michel he found himself asking for Jade instead. He'd quite like the young man who had challenged him a bit. In fact, Chris's thoughts had been cast to that memory a few times. Yes, Jade would do.
And so he was ready Friday night with a pot of tea and a freshly made bed.
Chris went to confession when he had time and when he had something to confess. Sometimes he lacked one, or the other. Sometimes both. But he'd found time tonight and he certainly had something to atone for with his tryst with Jade. It was weighing on him. He knew what the priest would say. The same as he always said when Chris brought this to confession.
He clearly wasn't the only one to come in tonight and so he sat in a pew near a blonde he'd noticed many times prior. He gave her a smile and a nod, then bowed his head to seek within himself to whether he actually felt guilty or not.
He clearly wasn't the only one to come in tonight and so he sat in a pew near a blonde he'd noticed many times prior. He gave her a smile and a nod, then bowed his head to seek within himself to whether he actually felt guilty or not.
They found a cab quite fast and soon enough they were whisked away to Chris's Lambeth flat. He made polite conversation, noting the weather, mentioning the quality of th ebeer he'd had. Nothing deep and certainly nothing scandalous. And when they were let out and he'd paid he motioned for Jade to follow. The building was low, just two stories, and Chris was on the ground floor.
He opened the door and the place was clean and orderly to an extreme. There was no dust anywhere. Everything was in its place- everyting level and square and equidistant. It wasn't cluttered in the main room but a peek into the first open door showed an office that was just as compulsively clean.
"Can I get you a drink? Tea? Scotch?" he asked.
He opened the door and the place was clean and orderly to an extreme. There was no dust anywhere. Everything was in its place- everyting level and square and equidistant. It wasn't cluttered in the main room but a peek into the first open door showed an office that was just as compulsively clean.
"Can I get you a drink? Tea? Scotch?" he asked.
