Post by CIAN Ó FAOLÁIN on Aug 3, 2022 14:19:37 GMT -5
Yet, as Cian read out the title and he watched as Joel took a tentative step closer in an act of reading the title for himself, he realised that perhaps he hadn’t killed the conversation at all. This thought was slightly muffled and somewhat disregarded as Joel’s movement brought with it a current of the man’s aftershave and scent which caused an ache of nostalgia to linger in Cian’s chest. It was easy to see how the sense of smell was one of the strongest metal transporters for memory and just then, even with the smell of coffee and sugar in the air, Cian felt his stomach lurch, threatening to take him back to memories of laying, crying in a hospital bed, a gentle hand covering his neck and robes that smelled of that scent, Joel’s scent, the touch and scent and a soft reassuring voice, comforting him through the jarring pain. Cian felt his throat dry and he bowed his head momentarily, looking to the book and wondering if Joel could see the heat on his cheeks as much as he could feel them burning.
Yet if Joel did, it went unsaid, instead the former Hufflepuff chose to keep the topic firmly on the book, commenting that he, “Didn’t realise there would be a difference.” Cian thought this might be an attempted to open up the conversation and he felt something in him release and lift at the prospect, a feeling akin to hope. However, that was just before he noticed the way Joel adjusted the tray he was holding and doubt trickled quickly through Cian’s mind, dispelling the hope just as quickly as it had come, leaving him feeling unsure where to proceed, or even what it was that he had been hoping for; the chance to talk about a journal he was only reading to get him back into work mode, or perhaps the more likely chance that maybe, just maybe, he might have been able to show Joel that he was trying to make amends. Trying to test the water. He didn’t dare go so far as to think that he might be hoping for the chance of maybe being more friendly with Joel, he doubted he could make up for the length of time that it had taken him to come around, or how his slow progress could be seen as some sort of game, if Cian were the type for games, but perhaps he could settle on the hope that maybe, Joel could see that he wasn’t there to hurt him. Sometimes, that was all Cian hoped for.
He expected Joel just then to point out the fact that he still had work today, wish Cian luck with his journal, or remind him of the time and when he’d need to be leaving, of course he probably wouldn’t be so blunt about it, but Cian expected to feel the disappointment just then that when Joel asked him another question, one that hinted at furthering the conversation rather than ending it, Cian felt momentarily like his breath had caught in his chest. His lips parted before he reached up his hand, clearing his throat so as to make sure his voice actually sounded when he did speak.
“Well I remember us learning about the moon’s axis with the earth and in relation to the equator at school, which is kind of what this focuses on as a main theory, but I never thought to make the connection that it might affect people like – werewolves differently depending on whether the moon is tilted above the equator or below. I suppose it works much the same way as it affects the tides, so the closer the moon is to the equator the more of an effect there is for anyone living along it, but also then the less effect it has for anyone at any distance above or below it. . .though that’s the theory, I don’t actually know yet if there’s any science behind it. There are certain full moons that are perceived as stronger and cause more damage but whether that’s to do with Mercury in retrograde or other alignments, or . . .” he trailed off, aware that he was rambling. It wasn’t something Cian did, his answers were usually straightforward. If he could say something in a few words he would. This personal rule was half the reason why he didn’t really have time for people who waffled on in his day to day life, and yet, here he was, speaking like it was going out of fashion and he couldn’t quite explain why. Perhaps it was because he had been reading and by himself for most of the day, perhaps it was just a way of processing everything he had just read, perhaps it was just an interesting topic for him, though perhaps, it had more to do with brown eyes, watching him steadily and the soft steady thud of his own heart and that of the man standing near to him coaxing the words from his mouth to their beat. Whatever it was, he stopped himself just then, reaching up to rub his nose, heat on his cheeks as he concluded in a softer voice, “maybe it’s lots of different contributing factors and it’s hard to put it all down to one thing. . .” he looked back at Joel, feeling his heart skip as hazel eyes met brown before he managed softly, “sorry, didn’t mean to waffle on…”
TAG: JOEL ABRAMS
NOTES: anything needs changed, just shout <3
OUTFIT: light blue jeans, grey long-sleeved shirt, deep green plain hoodie, boots
DATE: OCTOBER 2039