Dancing In the Shadows
-Original
RP-
by Shuuki and Pookie
Chapter 6: Another Memory
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Familiar church bells sound the third hour of the
morn...
The moon has sunk into obscurity and only faint
starlight falls on the fair forms nestled together on the bedroom floor...
RB:
*slowly awakens at the sound of the bells, recognizing his old room*
RB:
*realizes he is in someone's warm, protective arms*
RB:
*voices a name in a discreet voice*
Chanserv:
*opens one eye slowly*
RB:
...Andre?
RB:
*suddenly realizes who it is and gasps*
RB:
*sits up and looks around the room, with an air of confusion and fear*
Chanserv:
*catches RB by the wrist* Fledgling…
RB:
*is startled at seeing Chanserv awake* I...
RB:
*buries his head in his hands and tries to collect his thoughts*
Chanserv:
*rises and pulls RB gently against him*
RB:
*snuggles in the comfort of his arms, unable to speak*
Chanserv:
*rocks RB a bit in his embrace, stroking his head lightly*
RB:
*a tear rolls off his cheek as he lets out a small sigh*
Chanserv:
...This room is stifling. Let us go outdoors.
RB:
*barely nods*
Chanserv:
*beckons to the twins, who have fallen into a fearful sleep in the far corner*
Bring your Master and me some clothes at once.
Twins
: *lift themselves hastily from the floor, separating and stumbling to the
closet*
Chanserv:
*helps RB to his feet and wipes the tears from his lashes*
RB:
*doesn't look at Chanserv, instead rests his head against the man’s chest*
Chanserv:
*murmurs not unkindly* So despondent after such pleasure. You really are a
child...
RB:
*let's out half a laugh* Everyone says so...
Chanserv:
*kneels down, lifts RB's chin and looks him in the face* *smiling* Of me as
well. So I suppose that makes us even.
RB:
*answers with a small smile*
Chanserv:
*a brief flash of confusion and sorrow crosses his face as he stands, hidden
under his long tresses*
Twins:
*deliver their new clothes and help them dress*
RB:
*takes a quick glance around the bloodstained room as he lets the twins dress
him*
Chanserv:
*pulls the lace through his coat sleeves as he finishes dressing* *instructs
the twins* Take care of this mess. Use the utmost care and discretion, or
you'll answer to your Master.
RB:
*turns his back to the bloody corpse and looks at Chanserv, his face in the
shadows*
Twins:
*bow and set to their task*
Chanserv:
*extends a hand to RB* Shall we go, love?
RB:
*in a whisper* So effective...
RB:
*slowly nods and takes the hand* Yes...
The couple slowly exits the room,
walking down the length of the corridor until they reach a great staircase. As
they make their way down, they pass near a great fountain. RB gently trails his
hand in the crystal waters as they head through a great gate.
Chanserv:
*strolls into the grand expanse of garden beyond the gate, eyes on the stars
ahead* (fig. 1 Garden
Map)
RB:
*looks at the faint outlines of the Gardens around him, a smile growing on his
lips*
RB:
*calmly takes one of the many paths towards a large natural wall* *turns around
and smiles at Chanserv, inviting him to follow*
Chanserv:
*smiles bemusedly and follows RB's lead*
RB:
*as they arrive at a small gate surrounded by high walls of vegetation, stops
and speaks in a low voice* This is a large maze. There are many small scenes of
La Fontaine's most celebrated stories portrayed in here...I used to come here
when I could...
RB:
*looks up into Chanserv's eyes* There is also a small little patio where we can
rest...
Chanserv:
It is your garden; lead where you like fledgling.
RB:
*smiles* The fun is in getting lost...*extends his arm towards the left
entrance* This way then...
RB:
*steps into the dark maze*
Chanserv:
....Is that what you would like to do, RB…get lost?...
RB:
*doesn't answer Chanserv's question, only enters deeper into the maze's
darkness*
Chanserv:
Did I ever tell you?...I can see in the dark.
RB:
I know...so can I...
Chanserv:
Can you? *appears suddenly a few paces in front of RB*
RB:
*looks up slightly startled* Maybe not as well as you then...but I still know
this garden better than you...
Chanserv:
Really? *smiles a lovely and wicked smile* Then catch me if you can. *dashes
into the thick of the hedge maze*
Chanserv:
*a voice floats up from somewhere within* I'll beat you to the patio!
RB:
*stares at where Chanserv disappeared and notices one of the scenes* *laughs as
he recognizes it as the story of a frog who wanted to become bigger than a cow*
I can beat you!
RB:
*runs the opposite direction, towards the patio, ignoring the end of the story:
the frog wanted so much to beat the cow that it exploded*
Chanserv:
*musical laughter seems to surround RB, coming from one direction one moment,
and then another the next*
RB:
*suddenly stops at an intersection, trying to locate the source of the
laughter*
Chanserv:
*wisps of golden hair flit around corners as RB chases*
RB:
*runs forward again, hoping to beat his swift lover to the patio*
RB:
*turns around a corner and arrives at the small patio *realizes that the only
bench there is empty *smiles as he assumes he got there first*
Chanserv:
*taps RB on the shoulder from behind*
RB:
*jumps and whirls around*
Chanserv:
*smiling* You win.
RB:
*smiles broadly* I did!
Chanserv:
Here is your prize… *coaxes RB's smile into a kiss*
RB:
*after a moment of surprise, embraces Chanserv*
RB:
*gently pulls back and turns around, resting his back on Chanserv's chest* Isn't
this a lovely place?
RB:
*his eyes look across the patio, small rose vines hanging from the thin ceiling
and edges*
Chanserv:
*rests his chin on top of RB's head* Yes.
RB:
I used to see it as a lovely little birdcage...a cage for a lovely little bird...
Chanserv:
...A lovely little bird who could not stay in his cage. *chuckles*
RB:
*smiles sadly* I did escape this time...
Chanserv:
*stiffens a bit*
RB:
*sense Chanserv's reaction* Ah, I am sorry. Do not think I regret this...it's
just...
RB:
...you did not help me escape this cage....
Chanserv:
*silent*
RB:
*walks away from Chanserv, towards the bench* Have you ever been afraid,
Chanserveaux…truly afraid?...
Chanserv:
*stands watching RB with almost childlike confusion*
RB:
My worst fear came to pass, but it did not end like I thought it would...
RB:
*turns around and looks into Chanserv's eyes* Are you afraid of losing me?
Chanserv:
*eyes clear again* No.
RB:
*smiles sadly* Then you cannot understand my pain...
RB:
*looks away* I was always afraid that one day I would lose him...and that I
would never be able to survive it...In a sense, that happened...
RB:
*raises his hand and picks a flower hanging from the ceiling* I was always kept
here when the King was in the gardens...this was my cage. No one ever worried
about me disappearing...
RB:
After my little escape, they actually realized I could fly off. Granted I was
not going to go far...
RB:
So he was assigned to watch over me...At first, I couldn't decide if he was
just another jailer...
RB:
*smiles* Now...this place is full of beautiful memories...
RB: *looks back at Chanserv* I realized something here.
He, who always was so bold, who did not fear the King's wrath, he was afraid of
something...
RB: Can you guess what? *tilts his head, wondering if
Chanserv will answer*
Chanserv: *small voice, eyes wide* What?
RB: He was afraid of losing me...
RB: He was afraid I would fly off again...
RB: …and I would get punished again...and I would
suffer....
RB: *sheepish
smile* I cried all afternoon after I realized that. It is a wonderful feeling
to be loved...to have someone who needs you...who would protect you....
RB: I never wanted to lose that feeling...
RB: I never wanted to lose Andre...
RB: *smells the delicate perfume of the flower he is
holding * slowly crushes it* He is gone now...and so is that feeling...
RB: *scatters the pieces around and looks at his hand*
RB: I do not know what is left of me...*smells his hand*
Not much...Maybe enough...
RB: *becomes lost in thought*
Chanserv: *holds the heel of his hand to his forehead*
*a small ripple of laughter grows into a torrent*
RB: *snaps his head up and glares at Chanserv*
RB: What? What can possibly be so funny to you!? *senses
his anger rising*
Chanserv: *steps backward and drops to the ground,
laughter wracking his body...but as it lasts it morphs into hysteria*
Chanserv: *holds both heels to his forehead, his elbows
on his knees, rocking and gasping for breath*
RB: *is suddenly stunned silent as he watches Chanserv's
hysterical laughing* What...
RB: *slowly walks up to Chanserv, a worried look on his
face* Chanserveaux?
RB: *carefully tries to touch his shoulder*
Chanserveaux?...
Chanserv: *looks up at RB, tears running down his face*
RB: *eyes grow wide as he sees the tears* *holds
Chanserv protectively in his arms, murmuring and apologizing to him, tears
flooding his own eyes*
Chanserv: *continues laughing in small fits between
sniffles as RB holds him*
RB: *strokes his long silky hair, still murmuring
calming things to him*
Chanserv: *wiping his eyes as he speaks* Ah, heh heh,
thank you for that my dear RB. I haven't laughed like that in centuries.
RB: *looks down at Chanserv, stunned*
RB: *whacks him hard on the head* Why you!
RB: To think I was actually worried about you! *sighs
heavily*
RB: *holds him tighter and smiles*
Chanserv: *squeezes RB to him and sighs as well*
Chanserv: *holds him for a bit in the silence of the
early morning before stirring*
RB: *looks at Chanserv questioningly* What is it?
Chanserv: It's time to leave the garden RB....
Chanserv: The sun is almost up
RB: Where shall we go?
Chanserv:
*helps RB to his feet* Follow my lead this time. *extends a hand and smiles as
he heads back into the maze*
RB:
*takes the hand and smiles, following him*
The pair disappears into the
thicket, the shadows of the hedges swallowing them as they head for shelter
within the hidden parts of Versailles.
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Fin…?