The Grand One
part 2
By Evan
Well you're the grand one
Have you noticed
When you walk in all the fairy boys are pale and nervous
Well my starship doesn't want me And neither does his world
I'm glad I caught you on my view screen, Sailor
You're the grand one
Come and court me
'Cause this wooing
Is what I'm wanting
When my spaceship comes to orbit
Then hold me like a girl
I am the captain of the gravity, Maxwell
Everywhere I see your faces
-Hot One-
-Shudder to Think/Velvet Goldmine Sound Track-
Rowan walked quickly down the gentle wind of stairs, the
early somber roll of the bells urging him along. He had taken several wrong turns but it
had, after all, been quite some time since he'd attended Sunday mass. The hour was a bit
too early for him, he usually let the bells ring him to sleep after a late Saturday
evening in the bed of one of many.
He hurried through the doors just as two clergy men made to shut them.
Rowan quickly seated himself, looking around in interest at who in reality ever did come
to the services.
“Don’t you think your coat is a bit much for church.”
Rowan turned sharply, self consciously touching the bright lavender of
his velvet lapel. “What are you two doing here?” He hissed in annoyance.
Seiji sat comfortably in the dark wooden pew behind him complete with a
very chaste selection of ivory silks and a gold leafed bible on his lap. Seated next to
him was none other than the Exotic who was trying very hard to look absorbed in a
bible of his own, which was unfortunately upside down.
Rowan was disgusted. “You both are so obvious! You haven’t
been to ceremony since I’ve known you! In fact if God were paying any attention at
all, you’d have been struck down at the threshold, sunny day or no!”
Seiji winked contentedly at him.
“And you!” Rowan lowered his voice and narrowed his eyes at
the Exotic. “Your people don’t even believe in Jesus Christ!”
“Neither do many of yours.” Lord Sanada retorted flipping a
page in his bible.
“And put that bloody bible away!” Rowan forced a few smiles
to some older ladies who had been coldly distracted by his whispering. “I know you
can’t read a word of it!”
“It’s left to right,” Seiji pointed out helpfully to the
Exotic. “Not up and down.”
Rowan eyed the golden book Seiji held. “You’re no better, do
you have its pages cut out to hold a flask?”
“How nice to see you all here!”
Rowan, Seiji and the Exotic all turned to see Lord Mouri standing in
the aisle with a pleased smile on his face. They all quickly and awkwardly stood at once,
and gave a small surprised bow.
“I have seen almost no one from the court here at all!” Lord
Mouri leaned closer and lowered his voice. “Just old ladies and the children!”
“Not everyone understands the importance of remaining close to all
of His teachings.” Seiji explained humbly.
Lord Mouri practically glowed at his words.
“Oh yes!” Rowan smiled. “The three of us are almost
always here!”
Lord Mouri’s smile wavered. “Al-almost?”
Rowan nodded. “Yes sometimes, they have both drunk so much the
night before, I can’t persuade them, even with prayer, to attend services!”
Rowan sighed sadly. “Then I must sit here alone.”
“Oh, I see.” Lord Mouri’s eyes grew round as he glanced
behind Rowan to the other two. “I really should return to my seat, the choir is about
to begin?” He politely made his leave.
Rowan let his head fall to the side as he bowed his good bye to
treasure the dark frown Seiji had managed. God Bless him.
The Exotic wasn’t very pleased either. “Batta kusai.” He
said under his breath.
Rowan took his seat with a pleased grin. “Even playing field
Monsieur Japan?”
“If he is so important to you.” Seiji said softly in his ear
from behind him. “Why not make it interesting.”
Rowan crossed his legs as he listened. “A wager?”
“Yes, the man who takes all, wins all.”
Rowan sighed thinking of the smile Lord Mouri had given Seiji the night
before. “You haven’t taken all already then?”
Seiji made a small sound of disgust as he sat back. “Lord Mouri
has a very early bedtime,” he muttered.
Rowan felt his spirits lighten. So Seiji had gotten no where after all!
Rowan then frowned. If Seiji hadn’t managed then it might be a much more difficult
pursuit than he had imagined.
The choir started at that moment and Rowan shifted so he could see Lord
Mouri
seated a distance far away. His hymn book was open and he was singing softly along with
them.
“I will take that wager.” He said gently.
The Exotic murmured his consent.
“Then it is agreed.” Seiji said resolutely. “Anyone for
a toast to luck?”
Rowan shook his head, content for the time being to sit and listen to
the singing. Their purpose served, Seiji shrugged and stood with Lord Sanada to leave the
tedious sermon before it could properly start.
He had somehow survived the endless speech of damnation and salvation.
The red candles that sat in rows kept his attention and had soothed him. The church slowly
emptied and Rowan left with them knowing most would be eager to fill their empty
stomachs.
Rowan spotted the young lord sitting alone at a small round table
poking politely at his plate. Straightening his coat, he addressed him. “May I join
you?”
Lord Mouri stood in greeting. “Yes of course!”
“Why thank you I am famished.” Seiji said taking a seat and
placing the linen napkin across his lap.
The Exotic appeared at his left and gave a small bow.
“Lord Date!” Mouri smiled. “Lord Sanada! How nice to see
you both again! It is funny how we all seem to keep bumping into each other?”
Rowan scowled to himself as he seated himself last. “Yes, it is
peculiar isn’t it?"
“Did you enjoy the service?” He asked them all hopefully.
“Oh yes.” Seiji insisted. “I am the door: by me if any
man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
Rowan was quite amazed. Seiji would even make the bible sound lewd.
“John 10:7!” Lord Mouri laughed. “Wonderful!”
Rowan wanted to choke Seiji with his little golden bible.
The Exotic shifted in his seat. “I am not so clever as Lord Date.
The words come very hard to me.” He apologized.
“Tell me Lord Sanada?” The young Lord began very seriously.
“It is true you do not let your women wear any clothing in your country?”
For several moments of absolute silence the Exotic could do nothing but
blink once. “No? That is not true.”
Rowan hid his smile in his lace cuff as he drank from his glass.
“Lord Sanada’s land is very beyond our own.” Seiji
explained with a small smile.
“So much more so that they refuse to use beds, shoes or even a knife and fork.”
The Exotic flushed pink in confusion while Lord Mouri's green eyes
glittered in amusement, and fought his smile from turning into an outright laugh.
Rowan managed to feel a bit badly for him, for with all the outlandish
mystique, Seiji’s ruthless joke was somewhat lost on the Exotic. “Lord Seiji
should know very well,” Rowan added, “Growing up in the country on his
father’s farm must have been
without many comforts?”
Seiji’s smile died and the slightest red tinged his pale cheeks.
His humble beginnings were a source of great shame for him, and Lord Mouri’s sudden
interest in it, was enough to make the stoic Lord crush his napkin on the table.
“There is much to be learned from the poor,” Lord Mouri
assured him, “For He Hath said the meek shall inher-”
“Pardon me would you?” Seiji stood, outwardly calm, but
casting a furious look to Rowan. “I have forgotten I have matters to attend?”
Rowan nodded to him. “Let us not keep you a moment longer!”
He turned to the bewildered Japonais and lifted the wine canter.
"More wine, Monsieur?"
The Exotic, who did not know much of alcohol beyond the thin, clear
fermented rice wine, was soon flushed and unconscious on the table. Rowan took the goblet
from his limp, heavy hand.
"No one intoxicates like the French!" He took a long sip of
the purplescent wine.
Lord Mouri smiled uncertainly fidgeting with his first glass of wine
that wasn’t even half gone. They spoke of the weather and the years the young Lord
had spent within the sanctified walls of the monastery.
“I don’t feel better than anyone?” He explained in a
pained manner. “I just feel so lucky to have been able to be free to read and to
write.”
Rowan nodded in complete fascination.
“I read other things than the bible! The brothers didn’t know
of course.” He blushed and dropped his voice in secrecy. “I have even read
Moliere.”
Rowan laughed in delight. It went on and on. Rowan could not believe
any one like him could have ever been introduced into this world Paris had become. He was
so unbothered with what everyone else found important. Gossip was unknown to
him. Scandal was an alien concept. He was breathtaking.
He skipped about the subject of his life, as shady as it appeared
compared to what the Lord Mouri had been exposed to. An hour turned to two and Rowan was
certain he would lose him soon.
“I really must be off?” Lord Mouri told him almost on cue,
startled when he discovered the time. “I am expected elsewhere! Thank you so much for
your company!”
Before Rowan could stand and properly give his good byes, Mouri had
already walked off and disappeared around a tremendous bouquet of lilies in a flustered
hurry.
Rowan followed him. “Wait! Please wait?”
Lord Mouri turned impatiently.
Rowan wondered what he should say next, what he could say to make the
Lord stay for a second longer. This following and waiting for even a glimpse of him was
torture. He had no other excuse to see him for the entire week! He couldn’t hope for
any
success if he only saw the boy in church on Sunday!
The young Lord was standing there in the empty hall and looking at him
so expectantly. He was a bit shorter than Rowan was, and his auburn hair was tied back
behind his neck like any proper gentleman.
“Lord Mouri-”
“Please!” He said warmly. “I think you might be the very
best mate I have here in all of France! You must call me Sai.”
Rowan kissed him. He pressed his mouth to his without warning. Sai
stumbled back into the wall with a startled sound of surprise.
Rowan withdrew, appalled at his behaviour.
Sai stood frozen, and his eyes wide.
The stinging slap across Rowan’s face blinded him for a few
seconds. Rowan’s breath stilled as he held his burning face. He watched Sai flee in
disgust, casting a tearful look back at him before he vanished around a corner.
“Merde.” Taking a soft blue vase full of ivory flowers that
sat below a towering mirror, he smashed it into the marble floor in a surprising burst of
frustration.
He stood for a few moments looking down at the shattered porcelain in
shock.
“It is just a game.” Seiji said from behind him.
Rowan turned angrily away from him and stalked away wanting nothing
more on earth but to be alone. But before he escaped through the doors and away from
Seiji, he caught his last words.
“Isn’t it?”
to be continued...! =)