For Jag

[hollow_moon]

Their time together at his grandfather's had been lovely, and spent mostly in bed. Eventually, however, Val had been forced to return to work, and he was certain Jag would have to do the same.

"I've a lot going on in the next week, but I swear I'll call you the moment I've got it all under control," he'd promised- And he'd been true to his word, inviting Jag to join him for dinner the first chance he got.

He'd considered restaurants, but Jag wasn't much for being spoiled in Val's experience. He'd have gladly cooked a meal for the man himself, but he hadn't had a chance to pick up groceries, and they'd never be delivered on time... So he'd settled on a catered dinner at the museum. Nothing too posh, but a nice mix of South Korean cuisine that he hoped Jag would like. 

Meeting at the museum meant Val could work right up until the moment Jag arrived- Something he didn't find ideal, but was certainly necessary at the moment while they switched out several of the exhibits and went through various requests to lend out certain items.

"I'll leave the back door unlocked," he'd told Jag. "Just let yourself in, I'll likely hear you coming, but if i don't I'll just be in my office."

Comments

[jageskro]

So maybe Val was on to something, because his words made Jag realise he didn't even know how old he was. But he had a better question to ask, first. "Why'd you stop?"

[hollow_moon]

"Didn't have anyone to go with. All my mates were getting married, growing up..." Val confessed with a shrug.

[jageskro]

"Why not go on your own?" Jag asked curiously. It wasn't the sort of reason that had ever stopped him from doing something he wanted to. Honestly, if it it had been, he wouldn't have done much.

[hollow_moon]

"Because it's... It's something you share with other people. At least, for me it is," he shrugged. "Besides, I- I think I was starting to want what they had. Stability. Love. ...Don't get me wrong, took more than that to get me to grow up, but it felt lonely without them. I was lonely all around I think."

[jageskro]

This was veering dangerously close to the conversation they'd just elected not to have, and instead of pointing out how unstable he was, Jag decided to finally ask, "How old are you?"

[hollow_moon]

"Thirty," Val replied, wondering if that was a problem. He'd guessed he was older than Jag, though he'd not been sure by how much. "You?" he asked curiously.

[jageskro]

"Twenty seven," Jag answered, amused that neither of them had known the other's age. And then, he figured he'd answer the logical follow-up question. "March 23."

[hollow_moon]

"I don't know my actual birthday," Val smiled, chuckling to himself. "But my licence says December twenty-third."

[jageskro]

"Oh, shit, that's coming up," Jag chuckled, and scratched at the scruff along his jaw. "What do you get the guy who's got everything?"

[hollow_moon]

"Nothing I want," Val assured him, shaking his head. "Besides, it's dreadfully close to Christmas."

[jageskro]

"Double the pressure," Jag agreed, with a small smile, then shook his head. "You don't feel like much of a Capricorn."

[hollow_moon]

"Might not be," Val laughed. "I've always felt more like a Scorpio, if I'm honest. And you are... Aries? Is that right?"

[jageskro]

"Through and through," Val confirmed with a smirk. Of course he would be a fire sign.

[hollow_moon]

Val chuckled at that, then smiled brightly. "Never pegged you as a zodiac sort of man. Most people sniff at that sort of thing."

[jageskro]

"The Roma's a superstitious people," Jag answered with a shrug, a small smile playing on his lips. "Palm reading, tarot, astrology... They're all different ways of trying to make sense of the world." He could almost hear Drina's voice saying those words.

[hollow_moon]

"I like that we have those interests in common," Val replied. "Despite our different upbringings."

[jageskro]

"I don't know that I'd call them interests of mine," Jag admitted with a small shrug. "They're just... things I give a shit about?" He chuckled at himself. "That's the definition of an interest, right."

[hollow_moon]

"Kind of is," Val grinned, short nails gently scratching the back of Jag's neck gently.

[jageskro]

Jag hummed softly in answer to that scratch, but forced himself to not focus on the touch as much as he wanted to. "So, what else?" he asked, raising his arm to prop his elbow on the back of the couch, and his head on his hand, giving Val his undivided attention.

[hollow_moon]

"Hmm, let's see. ...Where's one place you'd love to visit?" Val asked curiously.

[jageskro]

"I don't know. Rome, maybe?" Jag offered, spontaneously. "With all the statues and everything. It's got to be beautiful?" And interesting. Full of history.

[hollow_moon]

"It is," Val nodded. "I could take you one day- If you wanted," he offered, finding he badly wanted to spoil Jag.

[jageskro]

"Next time we want to take a break from our lives?" Jag stated with a small smile. "So what's your favourite city? Apart from London, I imagine?" Or else why would he be living here, when he had the money to settle anywhere he liked.

[hollow_moon]

"I adore Taipei," Val smiled. "Tokyo as well. ...I love travelling and exploring."

[jageskro]

"What do you like about them?" Jag asked, all the more curious that he'd never set foot outside Britain.