OOM: Orpheus

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve keeps his arm around Orpheus until they're well into the apartment. "Keep me company in the kitchen?" he says, sliding his fingers just above the waistband of Orpheus's jeans.


[ooc: Adult shenanigans within.]

Comments

[golden_lyre]

He shrugs, playing with his fork in his salad for a moment. "I need an audience for my music. And I...have a preference for being close to the earth. There aren't many places that have both."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Central Park?" Steve suggests.

[golden_lyre]

"One of my favorites," Orpheus confesses. "But very cultivated."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"And you're looking for something more wild. Hm."

[golden_lyre]

"Ideally. My father had gardens in the palace and around them and they were lovely, but we were never far from the wilderness."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"That sounds beautiful," Steve says, gazing at him. "I wish I could give you that again."

[golden_lyre]

"It's all right," he says, reaching across the table to touch Steve's hand. "I've grown accustomed to it."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I don't know if there's anyplace like that in DC. Maybe the National Mall is a good place to play, but it's certainly not wild in anyway."

[golden_lyre]

"I'll be all right there," he says, squeezing Steve's hand before pulling his back.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I hope so," Steve murmurs.

[golden_lyre]

He nudges Steve's foot under the table. "You'll be there."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Yes." He gazes at Orpheus with a faint smile. "I'd make a home with you anywhere."



[ooc: Bedtime.]

[golden_lyre]

"And I you," Orpheus says, smiling in return.


[ooc: Sleep well.]

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Slowly Steve exhales, and his shoulders relax a fraction.

He eats a few bites, and then says, "The last time I talked to Demeter, I asked her to find something that will help you feel more at home here."

[golden_lyre]

"And did she?" Orpheus asks, picking at his food more than eating it.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Not yet, but I haven't seen her for a while."

He glances at Orpheus's plate. "Is the experiment a failure?"

[golden_lyre]

"Hmm? No, it turned out very well," he says, smiling a bit and taking a bite. "I'm just not terribly hungry."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Okay."

He eats.

"I asked her because--I don't know, I keep thinking there's a prayer or a totem or something that'll make this place feel like home to you. I know you're happy with me but home is still Thrace for you, and--well."

He eats some more.

[golden_lyre]

"Steve..."

He frowns a moment and sips his wine.

"It isn't you're fault that I'm away from home. I have been for a very long time."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Even if Thrace doesn't exist anymore, the land is still there. The gods. Instead you're here, where our myths are actually about aliens. I'm sure it's not the same at all."

[golden_lyre]

"No, it's...it's not," he agrees. "But that isn't your fault either. My home...the land is still there, but it isn't my home any longer."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I don't think any of it's my fault, either. That's not what I'm saying."

He rests his chin on his hand. "I'm not sure what I am saying anymore. Just that I'm trying to keep you contented and I'm failing even at that."

[golden_lyre]

"You're not failing at anything," Orpheus assures him. "I know you want to make things better for me, to make me happy or content or what have you, but that's not reality, my love. Just because I have...fits of melancholy, that doesn't mean it's a failing of yours. It's life. It's humanity, inasmuch as I am still human."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Not even contented anymore, huh?"

He has another long drink of wine.

[golden_lyre]

"That isn't what I said," Orpheus answers, exasperated. "I'm having a bad day. It doesn't mean anything."