icarus' folly [ARIC] ●

[Bastion Lewis]

The end of the young man’s pen was inserted in his mouth as he chewed on it. The fingers of his free hand were tangled in his mop of messy hair as his golden eyes flicked back and forth, absorbing the information on the page much more quickly than should be humanly possible. He already had a light headache, but that seemed to be a constant for him now. He wouldn’t fail his finals, he would get an A in every class. With his power, there was no excuse for him not to. He had managed in high school just fine without it, but college was a whole different ballgame. Especially a college like Barclay.

A piece of lemon cake sat on a plate untouched to the side of his book, his coffee also untouched. Why he even bought them he didn’t know, when he never ended up eating more than a bite. His stomach felt too tight to eat most of the time. Finals were soon. He kept reminding himself that in a couple weeks it would all be over. He could do this. He knew he could. If Atticus could do it, he could. Right?

A sudden gust of wind would distract the raven-haired male. It picked up several of his papers and sent them flying through the seating area. “Ah!” He exclaimed, jerking his head up and reaching out for the closest one. His fingers closed around it, but still several were fluttering around. Why had he decided to sit outside? Oh yeah. Cause it was nice and he thought the fresh air would be good. Definitely not worth it.

[Aric Delancy]

Work was going well, but he always did enjoy his days off. It allowed him to take part in the things he loved outside of his work and he would forever be grateful for that. The work load had been rather heavy, but the weight of the work was nothing compared to the weight of his reasoning for doing such work. Despite those reasons Aric remained positive and motivated to keep moving forward. The world was far to beautiful a place to waste it in sadness.

There was a place nearby that he sometimes went to read and people watch. Though he rarely met someone who would engage in a lengthy conversation there it was still interesting to observe them. The way they lived their lives and how he could easily tell which ones were there because they truly enjoyed the place and which only went there because it was convenient. It was amazing how much one could tell about a person just watching their body language and it went without saying that there were some people that were far more interesting than others.

One of those people had caught Aric's eyes as he walked toward the place. His hair was dark and messy. Not a disgusting sort of messy, but the right kind. The kind that made you want to grip into it and burry your face against it. The lemon cake that sat on the table was growing hard in texture which told him that it had been forgotten there for some time with other distractions clearly on the golden-eye'd male's plate. He couldn't have been very old judging from the youthful qualities of his features, but what Aric noticed most was the way that he chewed on his pen. Such a gesture told Aric that there was likely a great deal going through that raven-haired man's mind. Though thoughts as to what were distracted by his notice of the way those lips sat upon that Pen.

In his own distraction he hadn't noticed the wind kicking up the papers at first. Not until they were already in the air and one had managed to flutter to cling to his leg. There was still a lingering faith in fate that held within Aric so when that paper hit him he could only take it as a sign that he was meant to have a reason to approach this younger man. He gathered the papers that had come his way and without hesitation he approached the table that he sat holding the rest down at. Aric smiled warmly as he held those papers out for the other male. Ah, the temptation to feel the texture of that skin struck him as he neared this man. "The wind is not a kind study partner it would seem." He mused with a kind smile. "Perhaps I would make a better one."

[Bastion Lewis]

He groaned softly as he pulled the hand that had managed to catch one of his papers back in toward his body. He supposed it could have been worse, they could have fluttered out into the road or something. But still. He was going to have to reorganize them, and plus he simply didn’t have the time for this. He could feel anxiety building and bubbling in his stomach, and if he wasn’t in public he might have thrown a little fit, but as it was, he was in public and he wasn’t about to embarrass himself in that way. Just as he was about to get up and start gathering his papers, he noticed that another man seemed to be doing that for him. He blinked a couple times, surprised. Bastion always expected the worst of everyone and every situation, so he hadn’t expected to be helped by a stranger – not that he was complaining. He couldn’t help but think the man was rather attractive as well, though he tried to push such thoughts from his mind.

He gathered up a couple of the papers that were within arm’s reach of him, and around the same time, the blonde man approached him with that smile, holding the papers out to him. He felt a bit of color flood his cheeks for whatever reason as he accepted the papers, smiling back in an almost shy manner. Yeah, people skills weren’t really something he possessed too many of – especially around attractive strangers… even if something seemed inexplicably familiar about the man before him. He dismissed the thought, however. It was silly. “Thank you.” He murmured, knocking the papers against the table to get them into a more organized pile.

He tucked his hair behind his ear as he looked back up at the man. He found himself wondering why the blonde wanted to help him, but he wasn’t exactly complaining. That French accent really just added to everything, truth be told. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” He laughed lightly, nervously, as he placed the papers back on the table, laying his arm over them to keep them from getting away. He gestured to the chair beside him. “My psychology final is on Monday.” He told the man.

[Aric Delancy]

Aric was just passing the time on his day off so to him doing such things only helped both himself and other people. He did enjoy helping other people in these small ways, but most of all he just couldn't let a person like this worry themselves ragged if any of those pages had gone too far out of reach. He gathered the escaping pages with ease thanks to his attention to where they'd gone and with them in hand he had an excuse to approach that handsome man. He assumed based on this man's appearance and what he was doing that he was likely much younger than himself, but that never mattered much to Aric once they were legal to make their own decisions and showed the level of maturity of an adult.

With those papers in his hands he'd approached the stranger, offering them over with a warm smile, and a gentle word. Green orbs spilled their gaze over that form before him. The anxiety practically poured off of that man when he'd watched him before, but now he was getting to see a new color of emotions upon this man before him. The color on his cheeks had Aric's smile losing the will to leave anytime soon and so it continued it's presence upon his own features. Aric adored that shy sort of expression and he felt himself fighting the urge to reach out and brush his fingers against a colored cheek. "You're quite welcome, bel homme" he cooed softly to the other man.

With an simple series of steps he made his way over to the gestured chair. lowering himself down upon it as he would get a bit comfortable before looking back to the other man. "Well, you're in luck my friend, for I am well versed in that area. Amongst many other entertaining areas. " he spoke with a slight playful undertone. That smile warmly given despite that as he shifted the chair toward the table a bit closer to it and to Bastion at that. "I imagine based on what I saw in passing, that this exam is making you quite anxious, but do not worry bel homme; I will help you. " he reassured as his hand extended to place over Bastion's gently in a gesture of comfort. "Ah... how rude of me. My name is Aric Delancy and you are? " he questioned as his hand lingered over top of the one holding the paper's down just a bit longer than he'd initially intended.

[Bastion Lewis]

He gave the older man another shy smile, his fingers fanning the papers beneath them. Bastion, truthfully, always had to be moving, fidgeting, doing something. He wasn’t sure if there was ever a time when he wasn’t nervous, but he was certainly more nervous than normal now. He found himself wondering why the man seemed to have any interest in him at all. He was a lot younger, probably not as smart, and definitely not as attractive. Surely someone much more attractive than himself should be capturing this man’s attention. Or maybe it had nothing to do with that, maybe the blonde just wanted someone to talk to. Even though it was a foreign concept to him, some people were outgoing and just enjoyed making friends with basically anyone.

He blinked a few times as he mulled over the man’s next words. Was he a psychologist or had he simply taken a similar class when he was in college. But wait. That wasn’t even the most important thing he’d said? Versed in other more entertaining areas? What did that mean? Was the blonde hitting on him? Not that he really minded, not at all actually, but no surely not. He was just taking the meaning wrong or something. He could feel the blush persisting on his cheeks even still, and he hated it. He was almost nineteen! He shouldn’t be blushing like some little boy.

He was distracted from these thoughts as well as the man spoke again, his eyes falling on their hands as that hand was placed over his. His fingers twitched slightly, and his blush deepened, but he made no move to pull away – nor did he look uncomfortable at all. “B-bel homme?” He stuttered out. He’d had a French class in high school, and by all rights he knew he knew what that meant, but a side effect of his power was being unable to call forth other areas of information for a while after he’d been focusing on one. So basically all he could think of right now was psychology. And the man. And his hand. And how silly he had to sound. “My name’s Bastion… Bastion Lewis.” He said, managing to speak without stuttering at the very least. He moved forward in his chair a bit, smiling wider and tipping his head to the side slightly as he did so. His gaze traveled over the other man, inquisitive as it always was. Bastion could think of a million questions to ask him, really, both about psychology and himself.

“Thanks for helping me. This is the first time I’ve taken finals, and I’m really nervous. I don’t really know what to expect.” He told the other, biting on his lip slightly thereafter.

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Aric Delancy

[Aric Delancy]

Aric's eyes never left Bastion and he was somewhat fixated on those eyes of his. How beautiful they were and how far the depths went within them. He could tell there was a great deal more to this man that one would assume. As for his beauty, oh how Bastion was wrong about that, he was gorgeous and there was no one in the world that could bring another truth to his mind of that. His skin, the contrasting hair, the very shape of his figure made him crave to embrace him. Perhaps his initial reasoning for wanting to know this man were based on his physical appeal, but he had a feeling that he could be met on an intellectual stand-point as well.

Oh Bastion was quite right about one thing.

Aric was hitting on him, in fact, he was doing so without fear. He was certain his words would linger upon the air and bring to question his intentions. Maybe it would frighten Bastion away or intrigue him enough to stay. Either way it was not in Aric to beat around the bush when there was no reason for restraint. At least no reason that he knew of. Oh what a shame it would be if this man was unobtainable in those aspects, but at least he seemed gathered enough to be able to hold a decent conversation.

The color that stained Bastion's cheek caused his breath to catch in the instant that it appeared. His heart was racing and part of him wished to draw that man's frame up against his own right there. There was just something about seeing this man blush that did it for him. Could he really be blamed for that? The feel of that skin beneath his, the simple touch of their hands, it made his very being tingle. Ah, desire, how wonderful an emtion it was. The anticipation was exciting and yet he was still level headed enough to weave that charmed webb. "Oui. Do you wish to know what this means?" he questioned as a fingertip drew along one of Bastion's fingers. "Bastion, a suiting name, both strong and beautiful. Perfect for one such as you." he cooed softly.

calm yourself

It was something he had to tell himself in this case. That warm and inviting smile holding steady as he spoke, "You're quite welcome. You're also welcome to call upon me anytime you need assistance. With your homework or with other things." he reassured as those eyes turned toward that bitten lip. He leaned toward Bastion then, but a breath's distance away from him. In fact, the warmth of his own breath likely could be felt upon his skin as he looked to those papers over his shoulder. "Always expect what is unexpected. Cliche as it may sound it is best to be prepared and be pleasantly surprised by the turn of events that unfold than regretful." he added. "What gives you the most struggles?" he questioned. Politely tending to his promise of helping Bastion before he'd pursue his attention otherwise.


Bastion Lewis

[Bastion Lewis]

Quite unlike the older man, the raven was not experienced in matters of being hit on or flirting. His one experience in romance had not been the best, and he’d avoided it since then. Besides, he wasn’t attracted to what his parents wanted him to be. He knew they wouldn’t be okay with it, though at least Atticus was. The conversation he’d shared with his elder brother about the man he worked with had made him feel at least a little more normal. He knew plenty of men were attracted to other men, but sometimes he wished he wasn’t. He’d known for as long as he could remember, and while he had come to terms with it in recent months, it was still hard for him sometimes.

Distractions seemed to abound as far as the blonde was concerned, though, and soon enough Bastion’s quickly working mind was throwing itself to the back-burner for once as that finger drew along the length of his own. For at least a second afterward, his mind seemed to go completely blank. It was an entirely new sensation for him, but soon enough his brain was back in full swing, trying to come up with a reason that the blonde might have done that. He could only think of one, but he couldn’t bring himself accept it, even if his body certainly had. He shifted in his seat slightly, taking a deep breath through his nose as he felt his cheeks burn. All the compliments, all the motions made his throat tight, and yet when his opened his mouth to speak the words ushered forth with relative ease. “Yeah,” a laugh, small and nervous, escaped his lips, “I’ve taken French classes, I should know what it means…” He grinned a little, shyly. He could have went into a long-winded explanation about his power, but he doubted Aric wanted to hear that and besides the words that the blonde had just spoken were doing their job of distracting him once again.

With other things. He knew what that meant, he really did. It was getting harder and harder for him to deny the fact that Aric was definitely interested in him. But why? It was a question that he would perhaps never know the answer to. Not if he could never accept the fact that he was attractive, anyway. The closeness of the other had his own breath catching, though he would surprise himself as he leaned into the other man, allowing their bodies to touch as he gathered up the papers. Where the sudden burst of confidence came from, he wasn’t sure, but he fanned the papers until he found the study guide he’d compiled. “Can you look this over? I just want to be sure I’m studying the right things.” He told the other man, handing the papers over. Aric would quickly find, upon inspection, that the answers were worded eloquently and rather close to perfectly. It would become apparent that Bastion was worrying for nothing, but that was just in his nature.

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Aric Delancy