Charlie pauses too, looking up. He knows beyond what they see the universe is crashing in on itself--but what they do see is spectacular enough, stars and the endlessness of night.
When they reach the top of the little hill, Bartleby casts around for a suitable rock, and then swaps with Charlie the thermos for the blankets.
He lays one blanket on the ground in front of the rock and then sits down with the other draped around his shoulders, leaning against the rock. He pats the blanket between his legs. "Sit?"
Charlie takes off the guitar and puts it aside, and sits between Bartleby's legs, leaning back against him. "Mmm . . . nice." He unscrews the thermos and pours a cup. "Drink?"
"Mm," Charlie sighs again, wrapped in Bartleby-warmth. The night is clear, the stars are brilliant in the deep blue sky, and he has only one complaint. "The only problem with this is that I can't kiss you."
Charlie laughs and tilts his head forward. "No fair," he murmurs and snuggles himself back against Bartleby. He turns his head back and thrusts his hand into Bartleby's hair, to pull their mouths together.
"I feel like I've hardly gotten to touch you lately," Charlie pauses long enough to say, and then his tongue is soft and questioning against Bartleby's lips.
"I was talking to Moiraine about it--she wanted to know how I got the bruises--and it occured to me it might be some kind of madness in him. So I don't think violence will do him any good. Might make him worse."
And I don't want him hurting you goes unsaid but he kisses Bartleby again fiercely.
"Moiraine's a healer. If there's something really wrong with him, she might be able to help." He runs his hands down Bartleby's arms and interlaces their fingers. He rubs Bartleby's palms with his thumbs.
He sips from the cup and leans his head back against Bartleby's shoulder. "They are." He turns his head and closes his eyes, inhaling the scent of Bartleby. The quiet of the night is astounding, almost profound.
"Mm." He looks up at the stars again, ostensibly their purpose for being out here, and smiles. "It's not real anyway, yeah? That's the story I've heard. It's someone's memory of somewhere . . ."
"This whole lake and everything, yeah. Sirius' place. Peter made it. But there's always been the stars. There was always something out here, even if it was just grass." He kisses the top of Charlie's head.
"It was a forbidden sience, like the science of herbs, that stuff. God had told us not to teach it to them. But they were so... illogical. So chaotic. They needed learning.
"We began to teach select individuals in secret. Naomi wanted to learn. So I taught her." He sighs. "Shouldn't have."
no subject
Date: 2004-12-13 11:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-13 11:36 pm (UTC)He squeezes Bartleby's fingers and smiles at him.
no subject
Date: 2004-12-13 11:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-13 11:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-13 11:53 pm (UTC)He lays one blanket on the ground in front of the rock and then sits down with the other draped around his shoulders, leaning against the rock. He pats the blanket between his legs. "Sit?"
no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 12:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 12:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 12:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 12:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 12:29 am (UTC)It's a bit sloppy, but it still works.
no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 12:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 12:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 12:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 12:41 am (UTC)"B . . . I don't want you to fight Loki."
no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 12:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 12:47 am (UTC)And I don't want him hurting you goes unsaid but he kisses Bartleby again fiercely.
no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 12:49 am (UTC)He sighs, and then smiles a little. "I'll talk to him. I'm not making any promises, but I'll talk." He settles back against the rock.
no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 12:53 am (UTC)"Do you need more coffee? Are you cold?"
no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 12:56 am (UTC)"God, they're amazing."
no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 01:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 01:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 01:08 am (UTC)And all I need to see is you.
no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 01:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 01:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 08:28 am (UTC)"We began to teach select individuals in secret. Naomi wanted to learn. So I taught her." He sighs. "Shouldn't have."
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From: