Logs:Gentlemanly Intentions

Gentlemanly Intentions
Dramatis Personae Jax, Steve	2022-12-18 "We're in the witches' house tonight. Let it be magical." (Some time after Jax's kidnapping.)
Location <PRV> Tessier Residence - Greenwich Village
Understated opulence claims this spacious and well-kept townhome, the decor throughout the whole of it of the highest quality and carefully chosen. The front door opens onto the entrance hall, a closet close at hand to receive coats and shoes -- the pale hardwood floors gleam underfoot, unsullied by tracked-in mess from outside. The living room beyond the entrance is all dark woods and pale earth tones, comfortable couches and armchairs and a thick soft rug laid down beneath. Two large and painstakingly aquascaped aquariums flank the entrance to the dining room, with several brightly coloured species of fish within. Most of the rest of the wall space, notably, is taken up with shelves -- shelves crammed with books of every subject and genre. A study branching off of the main hall is cozy, small, done in pale blues and lined with books as well around the large computer desk and smaller futon, though these rarer books are cased behind glass. Another securely locked door leads to the basement, and another to the full bathroom downstairs. The kitchen connects to the living room; in contrast, it is sleek and modern and well-appointed, stocked by someone who takes their cooking seriously. And takes their alcohol equally seriously -- to one side of the kitchen there is a fully-stocked bar. The back door to the kitchen looks out on a small well-kept garden. There are signs here of beautifully planned aspirations to a romantic date -- fiery roses (strewn across the floor), candles in elegantly wrought holders (toppled, unlit), delicate gold-leafed fine china (swept aside, at least one bowl in several pieces on the floor), a sumptuous dinner spread on the sideboard (untouched and long grown cold.) Jax has, at least, moved off the table at some point in the last hours, into the plush cushioned window seat in one corner. He's gotten back into a scant semblance of A Clothing and though he is vaguely eying the no doubt delicious food he seems in little hurry to move from his current post draped (boneless, exhausted, more than a little bruised) against Steve. "... gosh. All these years an' I didn't even realize this room had doors." One more small gratitude to add to tonight's pile. Steve did pull his boxers back on at some point, but hasn't bothered with anything else and looks entirely ready for another round. He also does not seem in any rush, though, one arm curled around Jax. "Used to be more common. I didn't pay it much mind when I lived here." His fingers tighten on Jax's shoulder, just for an instant. "Luci put so much work into helping me --" The rueful tug of his smile flashes through the pause. "-- woo you, and I genuinely cannot tell if I've snubbed all his efforts or hit all my cues tonight." His fingertips trail down Jax's arm, careful now of the bruises he'd made so enthusiastically earlier. "I came here with more gentlemanly intentions. But then I saw you." He blows a shaky breath out. "Sorry it took me so long." Jax's eye flutters closed, and he musses Steve's efforts at care by subtly pressing bruised skin up into the touch with a reflexive shiver. "Gosh but we are kinda goin' about this all cattywampus, ain't we?" He doesn't sound put off, saying this with just a touch of laughter. "I sure ain't complaining. -- Not," he adds, brightly, "that you can't still do me some woo going forward. Ain't nobody ever done wooed me, before. I never really thought --" He cuts this line of thought off with a blush and a small kiss pressed to Steve's cheek. "-- my current window's a bit high up for serenadin' but I'm sure we can figure something out." Steve obligingly tightens his grip again, though still measured even. "Oh, I will. Don't expect too much trouble with the serenading, but the media will take some figuring out." He gives a small, quick shake of his head. "You know, I thought you weren't dating because of -- well, not choice exactly. Circumstance, maybe. But nobody, ever?" There's a touch of incredulity and affront in his voice. He gathers Jax a little closer, massaging his arm now, still none too gently. "No accounting for taste. And so you never thought anyone would want to..." He scrunches his brows. "'Woo' is starting to sound made-up. Romance you? Or just never thought I would?" "I mean, I spent years tending bar in a gay club, I've had no end of men wanting to get in my pants but it ain't quite the same, you know? I don't really like just --" Jax stops again, a ferocious blush filling his cheeks. "... usually. Usually ain't so much into just falling into bed with guys I ain't actually in a relationship with. And not so many people really eager to explore something steady with some dumb hick who come with a pack of kids an' anxieties in tow. Keepin' myself real busy just made it easy to --" He hitches a shoulder, shaking his head with a spill of floppy dark hair down over his missing eye. "Gosh, but I'm making it sound real sad an' that's not -- it ain't, it's just this -- you -- this is magical." His eye widens. He sits up -- abruptly enough to regret it with a wince -- scanning the space around them. "Oh gosh we should -- Joshua'll be comin' back for me some time soon I expect an' here we've left poor Luci's beautiful dining room a wreck I should -- oh gosh." "It's not the same," Steve agrees easily enough. "Lucky thing there wasn't a bed here for us to fall into, huh?" His smile goes a little crooked. "But we had best get to exploring something steady, in case we end up in one next time. We can try something new. Maybe share a nice meal before I rip your clothes off." He glances at the clock, lips compressing. "Got a little while yet, but that's time better spent --" Evidently thinking better of what he was going to say, he blushes and amends it to, "-- getting a bite to eat. You know Luci and Matt will judge me harshly if I let you clean this up. Hey." He cups Jax's cheek, traces the line of his jaw, and tips his chin up. Softer, "Hey. We're in the witches' house tonight. Let it be magical."