YOU BRING OUT THE MAGIC IN ME >> [ISRAEL]

[KNOX CAESAR KETILL]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=2][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,4,true] ( YOU BRING OUT THE MAGIC IN ME ) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - knox caesar ketill [bg=002211]

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starkeh && issy


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click for clothes


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i added coding as requested, dear xD and raine will only be around temporarily
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Knox didn’t want to be there.

He was here only because Josh was his neighbor and Raine had begged him to attend because she didn’t want to go alone. He liked Josh well enough. Ever since the fennec fox had escaped into his yard, the two had grown to be casual friends, as far as Knox was able to tell. They at least spoke more often than they had before. He’d gotten the invitation by chance when he’d asked what on Earth was going on in the backyard. He’d mentioned it to Raine for no particular reason, just because it had happened to come up. And she had immediately said that she wanted to go. Because she was no longer dating Issy, she had reasoned he should come along instead, though he failed to see the relationship between the two. He was pretty sure that Issy and Raine were still friends, though neither had mentioned why they’d broken up. It was because of the kiss. It had to be.

The earth still didn’t want to go. He wasn’t very comfortable, dressed up as he happened to be. Originally, he’d agreed to go, intending to wear a simple costume like a ghoul with a mask. Something that covered him properly. Something that wasn’t embarrassing or revealing. He’d had the costume, too, but it had gone missing the day before the party. He strongly suspected that Raine had stolen it just because she had wanted him to wear this get up, with which he greatly disagreed, at best. Why had she wanted to put him into this? He shrank farther into the corner, wrapping his arms around his waist and glad that Raine had disappeared into the crowd. She would have yelled at him to get his arms away from his chest or something. It was ridiculous. He didn’t want to be here, even if Josh was his friend and Raine was his friend. There were strangers all around him, crowding the kitchen where food was strewn across the table and counters. So many people. Why did there have to be so many people? He swallowed and pressed his back against the wall, breathing in again and starting to feel a little claustrophobic.

And then he saw a familiar blond hairstyle probing through the crowd toward. Black cat ears sprouted from a black headband she had atop her head to keep her hair out of her face. Her costume matched the ears, black and fuzzy but revealing enough to make even Knox uncomfortable. He was pretty sure her parents would never have let her go if they knew where she was going or what she was wearing, which was probably why she had gone to his home first and dressed there. His parents had heard only that they were visiting the neighbors, and had then gone out to dinner together. Knox figured they’d be out for a while, return home in a cab because they were both a bit tipsy, and then proceed to pass out in their room. They probably wouldn’t check on him. They never had, probably because they trusted him enough not to do anything stupid. He was beginning to think that coming to this party was the very definition of stupid, though he trusted Josh enough not to endorse excessive alcoholism or drug use. The guy was studying to be a doctor anyway. He knew what those things did to the body. And Knox had no intention to try anything, especially drugs. When it came to alcohol, it was simple enough to say he was underage.

So was Raine, and yet she was carrying a red plastic cup that looked suspiciously like the very thing he’d just been thinking about. But his attention quickly snapped from her hand to the other one, with which she was pulling Israel towards him. His face turned scarlet and his arms dropped, then pulled around behind his back as his right hand grasped for his left wrist. He had no words. Raine, on the other hand, shoved Israel in his direction and laughed, “Told you I had something to show you~”

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[ISRAEL JEREMIAH VALENTINE]

"What are you supposed to be?"

Israel's father scanned his outfit with tired gray eyes and lifted the cup of hot chocolate to his lips. The Wind boy twirled around, showing off his robes before stroking a hand through his fake beard. He had the mustache and everything, the lay around his neck, but definitely no chastity belt underneath. That would have felt just terrible. "The Love Guru," Issy said, and his father simply lifted a quizzical eyebrow. He rolled his eyes. "We saw the movie together, Dad." He shook his head, used to his son by now, he was sure. This was not very out of the ordinary for him. "You look like a dirty hippie."

And Issy truly got into character when he responded, "Ah, because I am a dirty hippie. And hippie stands for Happy In Picture Perfect Indian Excellence." Clearly, his father would not be getting his reference, and so the boy merely sighed and looked around before deciding that he didn't want to bother his mother with it. It hurt thinking about her, how she'd made herself so scarce he could barely remember the mole on her jaw or the cross she wore around her neck. So he left with a simple goodbye to his father, who knew exactly where he would be. He didn't have a curfew with it being a weekend, and that was one thing he appreciated his father for. He could be lenient as long as Issy didn't screw it up somehow.

The trip to the Dale mansion was easy enough, as he was friends with Nell, though she hadn't been the one to invite him. It had been Raine's idea, and he was so happy that after everything, they could still be friends, that they could get along. She was so wonderful that he really did hope that she found someone better than him. And as the Love Guru, he felt like he was in the perfect position for that. The party was already underway when he entered, and he silently hoped that at least a few people would recognize his costume. This was Canada, and it felt like a movie that everyone should see. Though, honestly, he did not mind if his over exaggerated impersonation of Mike Myers went over some people's heads. That made it even funner.

It wasn't long before Raine found him and started tugging him along. "Whoa, let us not rush, let us anti-rush," he said. Issy was having too much fun with this costume. And she looked adorable in her own costume. Okay, adorable may not have been the right word because there was enough skin showing that it made him protective over her, oddly enough. As much as he wanted her to find love, he didn't want any sleazebags to be trying to get into her pants tonight. He didn't know all of the people here, he wasn't outgoing enough for that, but he did recognize a lot of faces from the Academy.

Israel stopped dead when he caught sight of Knox. No, no, gladiator Knox. With a bare chest. And bare legs. And so much skin that it was difficult to keep the blush off his face. His breath caught in his throat. Fuuuu-- A half-smile twitched to his lips, as he tried to figure out the correct reaction to Knox in...in that. He could only thank God that he was wearing the robes, otherwise his reaction might have been a problem. He decided that the best route to take was the in-character route. "Look at you Knox, you are gorg, which stands for Gladiator of Righteous Gonads...." He winked, not being able to resist some sort of sexual comment. With that costume, there was no way he was going to resist.

Israel tried to keep his eyes on Knox's face and not roam over his body as he said, "Has my good gladiator have any refreshments yet?" He didn't have anything to drink yet, but he was planning to get silly tonight. How could one go to a party without getting faded, it was simply impossible.

costume

[KNOX CAESAR KETILL]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=2][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,4,true] ( YOU BRING OUT THE MAGIC IN ME ) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - knox caesar ketill [bg=002211]

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1 0 7 0


( tag ,[/i] )[/size][/color]
starkeh && issy


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click for clothes


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MUSE.
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He recognized the costume because Raine had made him watch the movie. Three times. He wasn't sure why she loved it so much, only that the last two had been while she had dated Issy, so he figured the movie reminded her of him. He definitely saw the resemblance. Something about their mutual friend just seriously suited him. maybe it was because the wind had the air of a matchmaker to him. He wondered whether Raine had suggested the orange robe, but it wasn't really any of his business. Their relationship as a whole wasn't really his business at all. He wasn't sure what was his business anymore. Neither was he sure whether Raine and Issy chatted a lot since they had parted ways. He knew they were still friends, at least according to Raine, who had been spending an renewed amount of time with him. She never brought up her ex-boyfriend, but she spoke of him when Knox happened to mention something relating to the wind. She hadn't confronted him about the kiss. He was too much of a coward to say something to her, and rather glad that Issy had, if that was indeed why the two had parted. He was waiting for Raine to show some sign of disturbance, but he also doubted she'd had that much to drink.

It was a pattern with his best friend, he'd realized through more experience than he honestly liked. When she had a little to drink, it made her tipsy, a little flirty, and as uppity as if she were some children's cartoon character. The trouble came when she had more. Whens he had more, she had quite. The alcohol seemed to make her reflect on her life, look on it with a cynical eye, and Knox was pretty sure it was one of the few situations in which he'd seen her brought to tears. He hated seeing her like that, and he was really hoping she wouldn't be drinking too much tonight. He knew she would definitely have a bad night if she did have even a little too much. He worried for his friend. She was almost family.

The worry flitted away when Issy opened his mouth, and his stomach plummeted into his chest. He couldn't see himself in any mirror, but he was pretty sure he was completely scarlet in complexion from the embarrassment of being seen like this. Of course, several people had seen him walk in like this, but that didn't mean he felt any better about it. Gladiator of righteous gonads. Was that supposed to be some sort of come-on? It didn't make sense of anything else, but it definitely contributed to the stomach currently residing between his feet and leaking acid. Did Issy know? Did Issy know because Knox had kissed him? Straight guys didn't kiss other guys. God, Issy knew. Had the blush not been so serious, he probably would have mimicked a deceased gladiator instead. he opened his mouth, managing to stutter out a few incomprehensible syllables, and shut his mouth again. Raine was giggling behind her red plastic cup. He sent her a look, wishing she would be at least a little sympathetic to him, but he figured she'd consumed enough alcohol to make that unlikely. Why was there even alcohol here?

He certainly wasn't planning on having any. he was underage, for one. He knew what alcohol did to inhibitions, for two, and he really didn't want to spill his secret to the whole world, or rather the sample of the world that happened to be at the party. And three, he knew what alcohol did to the body, killing brain cells and risking poisoning and he really didn't want to end up at the hospital, having to explain what exactly had happened and why he was breaking the law. The earth's cheeks inflated in frustration as he took a breath. One of his hands lifted to rub at the side of his face. he knew the tick was just him trying to waste time, to create an excuse not to say anything. he didn't know what he could say. he was just plain uncomfortable. Raine knew that. It was probably why she was giggling, hanging on the wall just enough to make it obvious she'd probably sway if she stood under her own power, but lightly enough to hint that she wasn't completely drunk yet. He sighed. He'd be yelling at her in the morning, if she didn't have the headache especially.

Again, the other subject of his attention claimed his eyes again, and he let himself study Issy's costume again. The fake beard didn't suit him nearly as well as the usual facial hair and god, he really shouldn't be thinking about stuff like that if he was going to keep his act together. "N-No," he muttered after a moment, holding up his empty hands. "I... I don't... I don't have a refreshment." He really hoped Issy wasn't about to ask him to drink alcohol. He didn't want to, but he would admit that he was also a doormat and it probably wouldn't end going his way. He swallowed again. "I... I like your costume. Sui-suits you,"

[/color] he offered then, chewing on his lip.

Raine groaned, looking tremendously bored all of a sudden. "Okay. I'll grab you both something to drink. The virgin gets a virgin of course. But when I come back, I want to see you two making out. Toodleloo." She handed Issy her red cup, which Knox noticed was still half-full, and quickly disappeared into the crowd again. Knox watched her go, his stomach churning again. She was his security blanket as much as she was the one who got him in trouble occasionally, as much as she made him uncomfortable (such as making him wear the costume he was currently regretting even more). He really wished she'd come back, even if it meant she was lying to him and bringing him an alcoholic drink. Fortunately, he figured she was trustworthy enough not to do that. He knew that she knew she would have a hard time with him if she did, but he also knew she wouldn't necessarily remember that with even a little alcohol in her system. It did make him wonder what Issy was like drunk, though he was equally sure that Issy was underage as well.

Another swallow. "What now?"[/color][/size][/font][/div][bg=002211][/td][/tr]
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[ISRAEL JEREMIAH VALENTINE]

Israel couldn't name exactly how he felt. After the kiss, after he walked away with the intention of leaving Knox for some unnamed length of time, it had been incredibly awkward to sit next to him and be tutored. Now? It was a mixture of emotions. Happiness and sadness and overall he supposed bittersweet may have been the best words. Maybe if he got drunk, this would become a lot less confusing for him. He knew how he felt about the Earth graduate. He knew that he really, really like him but he didn't know how the boy felt in return. He kissed you back. That filled him with just a little hope, but he could only think back to Raine's words. They're both guys. What if Knox just kissed him back on instinct, just because that's how kisses went? What if he felt too awkward not to kiss him back, what if he was humoring Israel? There were too many questions to make him feel comfortable, and his goal for tonight would be to get so drunk that he didn't care about all of the emotions. Even though that wasn't a good method, considering that he would just get all the more emotional.

In that case, Issy decided that he'd have to get Knox drunk as well, more tipsy than Raine was at this point. He didn't know whether or not Knox had ever drank at all, but he would try to convince him because really, how could you go to a party hosted by college kids and not have alcohol? It wasn't necessarily a college party, judging by the high schoolers he could recognize, but the fact that there was alcohol out was enough to say it. He smiled at the compliment. At least he could hide behind a Mike Myers facade for a while, pretend that he wasn't blushing while practically staring at Knox's near-naked body. It was a good thing he had so much facial hair. Issy spread his arms wide, did a turn for his .... tutor. Friend. We're friends and we're going to stay that way, aren't we? Just friends. It was a rather depressing thought. "Thank you, Knox. I am his holiness, Guru Pitka." In actuality, he would like to hold that title one day. Well, maybe not Guru Pitka, but he wanted to be a relationship expert. Even after he destroyed his so cruelly by cheating. It's fine now. With Raine, maybe, but he couldn't stop the butterflies in his stomach when he was around Knox and he felt like that was a pretty big problem.

Though he should have been better prepared, he should know how to deal with it. Admittedly, it was easier helping others, and it was hard to look into himself. Intimacy. Or Into-Me-I-See. He almost laughed at that, but Raine distracted him. His ex-girlfriend -- it was too weird to think of her like that, and he didn't want to think of her with a negative connotation like that, so he just wanted to think of her as his friend -- answered the question about Knox. But what he paid the most attention to was the making out comment, and usually that wouldn't have made him blush, but he wasn't handling his emotions well right now. He only blinked and looked down at the cup he was handed. He sniffed, but that did not help in identifying what she was drinking and now she was gone it was too late to ask. "God Raine, you're weird," he mumbled fruitlessly to himself since she was not in earshot, and decided to take a sip of the drink. He winced when it first went down, but he decided to drink more, feeling his throat and mouth burn. It wasn't the wisest idea, but he was drinking to get drunk. Therefore, he would be getting drunk. Magnificently so.

He stood rather awkwardly, fussing with his lay, until Knox spoke up and he tried his best to be facetious again. "Why, we make out of course!" He threw his arm around the other boy's shoulder. He didn't want to make it seem like that's what he wanted, though, so he didn't lean in very close, just made it appear like he was teasing the Earth with their friend's words. The liquid in his cup sloshed a bit as he held it closer to Knox. "But I might be able to refrain if you drink with me. I plan to get weird, I just don't like drinking alone." It was like a threat, a bargain, and as far as Israel was concerned he won either way. He either made out with Knox or got the poor boy drunk. Though it would take a little more than half the cup. Of course, he didn't know about Knox's tolerance for the stuff. He figured if he was a first-time drinker, it wouldn't be very high.

costume

[KNOX CAESAR KETILL]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=2][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,4,true] ( YOU BRING OUT THE MAGIC IN ME ) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - knox caesar ketill [bg=002211]

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1 1 1 0


( tag ,[/i] )[/size][/color]
starkeh && issy


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click for clothes


( commentary ,[/i] )[/size][/color]
TEMPTATION
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He couldn’t stop a small smile when he saw Israel spread his arms and turn for him so he could see the costume properly. It looked like the teenager had worked very hard on it. Actually, it looked like his friend had gone the whole nine yards, an expression he had never quite understood. Maybe it had something to do with football? Knox definitely didn’t understand then. He didn’t know anything about football except the shape of the ball and the field and that the uniforms seemed more bothersome than helpful in protecting the players. He’d heard of enough football injuries not to be impressed by the equipment. Another thing that failed to impress him and only served to confuse him was the stereotype that football players slapped the behinds of their fellow players. Why would they do that? Supposedly, it was something that implied homosexuality (though Knox, for one, had never wanted to slap someone’s behind, man or woman) when the players were equally stereotypically homophobic extra-heterosexual jocks. But then, he was also relying on rumors more than personal experience, and he really ought not to be thinking about this anyway. Why was he wondering about the sexual orientation of football players anyway? He didn’t know anything about them.

What he did know about was gladiators, at least to a degree, and he decided to play along a little. He placed a fist across his chest and knelt on one knee, figuring that a guru, even a love guru, would be higher in the social hierarchy than someone who happened to kill opponents to survive and who was more likely than not a criminal or a prisoner of war. He was no criminal. He didn’t want to become one by drinking here either. He was no prisoner of war. He hoped never to be a solider, and he was pretty sure only soldier were prisoners of war, but then the military was another of the many things he knew very little about. Wow, he was making himself feel a little stupid. He looked up at his friend, winked, and stood again, reeling from the confusion that he had winked at Israel. Winked. Why had he winked? The confusion showed on his face. He didn’t understand. He was pretty sure one couldn’t be drunk simply by inhaling the scent of alcohol. He had nothing to drink either. He couldn’t possibly have had alcohol, spiked drink or straight. He’d be fine. Fine.

Of course, Israel was determined to change that as much as Raine was. When the wind stepped forward, he took another step back, running into the wall again, feeling the heat creep into his skin and not return. The arm came around him instead. He closed his eyes for a moment, accepting the thought that if Israel wanted to make out with him, it might be best to allow it, just for a moment, so Raine would be satisfied and because he liked the feel of the other’s mouth on his. He remembered that, from the last time they’d seen each other. He remembered the hand on his neck, the lips on his own, the smell and the taste of him. It had involved everything but sight. He had kept his eyes closed. It wasn’t because he didn’t want to look at Israel, but because it had been one of the few things that had felt completely natural. The kisses hadn’t been unnatural, despite the betrayal they carried, one he was desperately trying not to think about—those lonely two kisses had been plenty. They were fresh in his memory, almost teasing him. But there came no kiss. No kiss. None at all. He opened his eyes slowly, looking at him, realizing that his friend wasn’t nearly as close as a part of him wished. He swallowed.

Why did he have to ruin that moment? The kiss or a drink. He definitely wasn’t drinking. He didn’t want to drink. He didn’t want to break the law and he didn’t want to taste the alcohol and he didn’t want to get drunk. Even if it meant his friend being unhappy, though he was definitely sympathetic towards him. Drinking was a naturally social activity. Drinking was something people did either because they were with friends, or because they were just so lonely. He swallowed again, staring at Issy rather than the cup he could smell under his nose though it wasn’t too bad yet. “I… I… W-we aren’t… old en-enough t-to drink,” he sputtered nervously, finally, feeling it wouldn’t keep Issy or Raine from actually doing so. Israel had already taken that sip or two or four after all, Knox had no doubts he knew exactly what it had been. He really hoped that Issy would just go along with it, but it was worth a try. Or so he hoped. He hoped. He hoped so much. Things were sure to go downhill otherwise. Maybe things would go downhill even if Issy and Raine both had nothing more. God, he just wanted to go home and take them both with him so they definitely wouldn’t drink.

Raine chose that moment to return, three cups in hand. She pouted at them for a minute, then swung her hip at Issy’s back with every intention of shoving him into Knox and trying to get them to kiss as she had almost threatened before. “Oh, come on, Knox, won’t make a difference if he knows.” She thrust a cup into Knox’s hand, which he grasped only out of instinct. He frowned at the plastic, hoping Raine was true to her word and it really was a virgin drink. The manner in which she had revealed the little fact about him was embarrassing nonetheless, though he was pretty sure it was obvious from his shyness anyway. She was grinning, and he knew she was about to give away another secret of his. He couldn’t muster any anger, though. He sort of wanted Israel to know. Raine wrapped an arm around her ex-boyfriend’s neck (the “ex” made him happier than it really should have for a moment) and whispered a little loudly in his ear, “Knox, you see, my guru, is gay.”

[/b] She burst into giggles as if this were incredibly amusing and Knox felt his face redden again. She was ignoring him, offering Issy his refreshment as she began to sip at her own. “So it’s not like he wouldn’t enjoy it,” she continued, and Knox turned redder with every syllable as she did, “And I’m left wondering why you won’t just do it.” There was her pout again. Fantastic.[/size][/font][/div][bg=002211][/td][/tr]
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[ISRAEL JEREMIAH VALENTINE]

even though he knew he shouldn't be, israel was planning his moves. his plan of attack. he didn't even know if knox would want him, would ever want him, but he couldn't help himself. and he felt like a bad person, he really did. but he'd never been this attracted to one person before. he'd never had to hide his blushes, because he was the one trying to make other people blush. the tables had turned, and he wanted to take it into his hands. he didn't want knox to slip away again, because he didn't know what he'd do. he had no idea of raine's plans, of the information she held, but he had convinced himself that he would try his best anyone. the boy hadn't outright turned him down, right? of course his pessimistic thoughts convinced him it was because knox was too kind, too gentle to hurt him like that. he was only being nice. he was just so sweet, and, and...

hot. he was caught between telling knox to cover up to spare him the constant blushing, and the fact that he was really enjoying the show, much more than he should have. the earth graduate was the hottest person here, even with all the scantily clad ladies in their costumes with "sexy" in front of it. all he knew was that he wanted to lick knox's chest, wanted to do so much more to him, but these were things he had to keep to himself. he almost felt bad for those kinds of thoughts, the fact that his friend -- his tutor -- wasn't even aware of what was going on inside his head. he was just the innocent blushing guy looking terrible awkward, and oh so cute, in a gladiator costume. he had to wonder if it was his idea, and so he decided to ask. "is raine responsible for sexy gladiator?" he certainly didn't need booze to be flirty, at least, though he only wanted to flirt with knox. only wanted to touch him and kiss him and there was this invisible boundary of israel's own fears keeping him from doing that. he kissed me back. it was those words that were becoming his dogma, repeated over and over in his head to remind him that there was the slightest chance he could make it.

issy watched the boy closed his eyes, thickheaded as usual in not realizing what Knox wanted. for as much as he wanted him, he was oblivious to his clues, still wallowing in his own doubt. but then Knox opened his eyes before he could wonder anymore about it and was stammering about how they were underage. he took another sip and grinned, saying, "does that mean i get to make out with you?" the question thrilled him, the mere idea of kissing knox, of being able to let his hands roam freely over his body. he wanted to get much closer than he was now, and goddamnit if he wasn't going to lose his mind just by standing so close to him. he could feel his bare skin against him and wondered whether or not it was such a good thing that he was wearing those robes. perhaps for the lower half of his body, but he wanted skin against skin. he was caught between stealing his kiss anyway and reminding himself that he still didn't know. the internal conflict was pushing him over the edge.

raine's return gave him a momentary halt in his thought process, as he was bumped into, his grip tightening on knox to keep him from stumbling. "whoa now," he said in his whimsical tone, though he really was surprised. it was easy to tell that she was tipsy being her friend, and he had the idea that she may have just stopped to drink before coming back to them. oh raine. she was speaking now, and he lifted his eyebrows at her words. won't know the difference? israel didn't let his spirits get too high with that only to have them crushed if he'd misinterpreted. but by her devilish expression, he didn't think he was too far off base. he let go of knox as she put her own arm around his shoulder. and then she spoke the words that made him unbelievably happy, and made knox turn unbelievably red. he'd never been so happy to hear of sometone's sexuality before.

issy lifted his eyebrows at the earth student as if to ask if she was telling the truth. again, he was trying not to be too hopefully, didn't want to be too discouraged if it turned out that she was too drunk to even understand what she was on about. maybe she just liked to pair her friends together, or maybe she was just a cruel drunk knowing israel's feelings and wanting him to end up rejected because of how he had betrayed her. no, the latter was way off, this was raine they were talking about. "i would, miss raine, if you'd release me," he said, trying not to make his desire to kiss knox right then and there obvious. he looked at knox with a smile, and pulled down his fake beard and mustache. "i mean, only if knox likes me. does knox like me?" he looked at him, the smile on his lips but the question clear in his eyes. please don't tell me she's lying. it may have put a damper on his entire night, one that even the alcohol in his hand couldn't life him from.

costume

[KNOX CAESAR KETILL]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=2][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,4,true] ( YOU BRING OUT THE MAGIC IN ME ) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - knox caesar ketill [bg=002211]

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( tag ,[/i] )[/size][/color]
starkeh && issy


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click for clothes


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I am so badly behaved today >> sorry he's so quiet in this, too, but you know him xD
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When Israel asked about the costume, he noticed a word missing he’d caught on to before. For the most part, he hadn’t really thought about it when it had popped up earlier. Now that it was absent, however, he almost missed it. He oughtn’t to be honest. It wasn’t like it really applied, right? He didn’t… he didn’t actually belong to Issy—yes, because that was the word that he was thinking about “My.” Issy had said “my gladiator” before and he almost preferred it to “sexy gladiator.” He wasn’t even sure why he liked it, only that it warmed some spot in his chest in a way that was similar to a blush but not uite the same thing. It felt better than a blush. It was bad only in the sense that it vaguely confused him, and that was completely suppressed beneath his fondness of the feeling. Why hadn’t Israel used that phrase again? Had he not ntoiced that he’d used it in the first place? That could be the case, but Knox was just a bit uncomfortable with “sexy.” He didn’t think of himself in any manner remotely sexual, and he needed time to adjust to the idea that someone else might. Even if he sort of liked that Issy apparently did.

In response to the actual question, he nodded slowly. Raine was to blame completely and entirely. She was the one who had suggested the costume and he was pretty sure that she had also stolen his original costume. He would never have come up with this sort of thing on his own. It was just ridiculous. Besides, he would probably end up freezing later in the evening or as soon as he stepped outside. He’d get prominent goosepimples and he’d shiver and his stutter would be ten times worse as his teeth clacked together. The thought almost made him shudder. He wasn’t looking forward to that. Maybe Issy would let him borrow a layer of his robe for warmth or something. Were there even multiple layers to it? Israel would probably get overheated from that if there were. He cleared his throat, trying not to imagine something that would definitely wander in the direction of “inappropriate.” Trying to distract himself, he added, forcing himself to speak, “Ye-yeah. I… I th-think she sto-stole the-the oth-other one.” He rubbed at his own arm, wondering why Israel hadn’t been able to just assume that. Knox was shy enough for it not to make a difference even if Israel was wrong.

There were more things people in general were wrong about than they liked to admit. He never understood why it was so hard to admit you were wrong or to apologize. They were just words. The only reason they were difficult for him was because he found it difficult to say pretty much anything unless he was extraordinarily comfortable both in the situation and with the person with whom he was speaking. He was right often enough to make being wrong a small thing and not one he was about to make a big deal about it when he was. No complaints.

He couldn’t manage a complaint about not getting a kiss either. He hadn’t actually asked for it, of course. He didn’t have the guts for that either. He wasn’t even 100 percent sure that he wanted a kiss. If he asked for a kiss, for example, it would probably hint at his little secret, so when Israel even asked about making out with him, he was stumped for a minute. Desire warred with fear. Want fought worry. He’d made up his mind—he definitely wanted that kiss that the wind was offering, but he was still nervous about it. He had no experience in the subject and he didn’t know what to do about it. He could only acquire experience, but he was nervous about doing that, too. He was scared of screwing it up with someone he genuinely liked. And even if he and Israel had barely reunited, hadn’t spoken since their tutoring session, he really liked the guy. Maybe too much. Or maybe that was what the pleasant warm feeling in his chest happened to be. Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe he was getting sick or maybe he was already drunk.

Raine definitely was. He let himself frown a little as she approached again with the cups, then looked at the one she’d pushed into his sand and the sloshing red liquid inside it. It was probably punch or something. From movies he’d watched, usually at Raine’s request, he knew the stereotype that punch bowls at parties were frequently spiked. Was Raine paranoid enough to taste it before she gave it to him, or was she too drunk to care even if she was? He doubted that it was very likely. She didn’t look quite that drunk. She looked more along the lines of tipsy, still, fortunately. He was hoping she wouldn’t drink much more, but seeing that she was sipping from her new cup was probably pointing in the other direction. But maybe he was feeling a little bitter because Raine’s presence had coincided with Israel backing away, though Issy drinking bothered him a little, too. He’d rather admit to wanting to kiss him than see him get too drunk.

Again, his stomach plummeted southward at her little announcement. Rather than look at her, he found himself staring at Israel as long as he didn’t have to meet the wind’s eyes. He couldn’t look at him. He couldn’t speak if the wind looked at him. But he also wanted to know what he was thinking, and maybe looking at him would be the only way to do that. He didn’t know. He couldn’t know. He didn’t have precognitive powers. Oh god, he was screwed. Raine unwrapped her arm from Issy with a complaint that he didn’t quite comprehend, as he was still paying attention to the wind in front of him. Did he like Issy? Yes. Was he willing to admit it? Probably. Was he willing to say so even if it meant kissing Issy in public with his best friend and Issy’s ex-girlfriend watching? No. But he was going to do it anyway. Because he didn’t want to lie, whether by omission or just outright lying. “Ye-yeah,” he stuttered again, and licked his lips. He was agreeing to so much more than just the fact that he liked Israel. So much more that he didn’t have the courage to put into words.

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[ISRAEL JEREMIAH VALENTINE]

israel silently thanked their friend for stealing knox's costume. though he had to wonder why she did it. was...was she into knox? that thought was almost laughable, they were best friends. and while half of movies out there had the premise of best friends falling in love, he knew that a guy and a girl could be friends without there anything growing between them. and besides, he trusted that since raine knew how he felt about the boy that she wouldn't do something like that. no matter what, he'd always trust her. even when he told himself that she should never trust him, even as a friend. the boy would never truly betray himself for that because cheating was the worst sin one could commit in a relationship, even if it ended after, even if it was just a kiss. israel was going to shoulder that guilt, and even if everyone told him not to worry, that it was fine now, he wouldn't let himself just brush aside something like that.

he was just lucky everything worked out. israel didn't mind what raine knew about him, his crushes and his sexual preferences. he was never a shy person and he cared about raine. however, as well as he knew her, he'd never guess that she may have been planning anything. right now he was just appreciating the view. gotta be cold right? he almost grinned at that, but tried not to be completely creepy, especially in this costume. while knox was the sexiest thing at this party, he may be mistaken for some child napper or something. luckily there weren't any young'uns running around for parents to pull him away from. at least his costume was comfortable unlike some others, unlike what knox's most likely would be. again, israel was just so very thankful for the robes. it took a little bit of planning to get everything together, as well, since the costumes they sold in the stores weren't very good. they didn't suit his needs.

all thoughts of the cstume, however, fled when raine revealed the secret that issy didn't know knox was keeping. it wasn't something he could have guessed, like the fact that no one would be able to guess that he didn't even have a preference. human sexuality could not be pinned down, that's what he believed. he believed that even the straightest of people have been sexually attracted at least once to the same gender, whether it was just one specific person or a few. it was something primal within them. but it wasn't about his sexuality, it was about knox's. he didn't realize that this was something that raine had kept a secret for him. he saw no reason in keeping secrets like that, even when knowing how narrow-minded a lot of people could be. his parents knew how he felt because he was very vocal, and while he felt like it created a rift between him and his father, he believed that his mother appreciated it. well, the last time she'd paid any mind to him.

he breathed in when knox stuttered out his answer, that yes he was gay. that meant he was attracted to guys. israel was a guy. words could not describe how happy this made him. though he was awkward, as well. at first he didn't know what to say about this. he wanted to say "take me now, i'm yours" but just because he was gay didn't meant that he automatically liked him, wanted anything to do with him. and that was another disappointment, right after the elation of finding out the truth. "good, great!" he said whimsically. "we're all a little bit gay. i am, raine probably is i mean she could get any chick she wants, am i right? hey, what's in this is it rum..." he decided to go off topic once he realized that he was getting nowhere with his words, staring into the cup and swishing the liquid around as he thought of anything he could say next. he took a long sip before looking at the water girl, "so raine, i love you, but look at that zoro over there, go make conversation with zoro..." he waggled his eyebrows. he loved her, but he wanted to talk to knox alone.

costume

[KNOX CAESAR KETILL]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=2][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,4,true] ( YOU BRING OUT THE MAGIC IN ME ) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - knox caesar ketill [bg=002211]

[atrb=width,100] ( word count , )

[/font]
8 4 2


( tag ,[/i] )[/size][/color]
starkeh && issy


( clothes ,[/i] )[/size][/color]
click for clothes


( commentary ,[/i] )[/size][/color]
Knox is nervous >> <<
[/div][bg=002211][/td][td][atrb=width,150]

Judgment. Knox was facing judgment. That was why he was so nervous. Everyone constantly judged everyone else. It was impossible not to. You just thought things when you saw people do things, and your impression could change in seconds based on what that person did, the way they dressed, what they said. It was hard not to. He didn’t know a single person who could stop themselves from judging. It was the admirable person, however, who didn’t always act based on the small judgments, who let his or her mind be changed as more was revealed, as more made sense, as one was able to understand the other’s character more thoroughly than a single impression could possibly allow. You didn’t need to share your judgments. But he had a feeling Israel was about to, and it twisted at his stomach.

But why? Why did that judgment bother him? Why did it scare him that Israel now knew? It was unlikely that he would judge too negatively because he had instigated a kiss. Knox assumed his friend to be open to both genders—he’d dated Raine who was obviously and very proudly female, and he had kissed Knox, who was more than anything else male, despite his orientation on that spectrum. It wouldn’t make sense of Israel looked down on people who preferred either gender because he was open to both. Besides, he had kissed Knox. He kissed me. He kissed me. Maybe that was what made him nervous: the potential that, even though Israel had kissed him, admitting that he liked Israel would make him cease to be an attractive option in… in… anything. Knox was scared of what he wanted, scared that it didn’t align with what his friend wanted. It was a stupid fear. Stupid because he wasn’t even entirely sure of what he wanted.

That want was beginning to take shape, though. And maybe that scared him just as much. He didn’t want to be afraid.

He even managed a small smile when Israels tarted on his little commentary about homosexuality. It was a fascinating thing, to be honest. Supposedly, some other species of animals had a higher rate of homosexual copulation than heterosexual. So why did people say it was unnatural for humans to be homosexual? Just because they couldn’t have children? The world was overpopulated and he shouldn’t be thinking about this. He should be thinking about the tempting love guru in front of him and the blonde who was currently describing some sort of cocktail to the aforementioned love guru. It would probably get him in some sort of trouble thinking about him, because the love guru did seem a little too intent on getting drunk. He wanted to say something, anything, ask him to stop, but he doubted that Israel would listen to him. At the most, if he did listen, he’d ask for the kisses again.

Knox was starting to expect that kiss, too, especially when Israel pretty much told Raine to get lost. The blonde rolled her eyes. “Whatever, Guru Pitka. I didn’t even get to see the kiss. Give me details tomorrow if we don’t run into each other again.” She shot a smile to Knox, then looked firmly to Israel again. “Take care of my earthie.” She poked both their noses, kissed Knox on the cheek, and swayed off to greet the Zorro as Israel had suggest. The earth watched her go, a little worried. Though the man in the mask looked vaguely familiar, he was fretting about what she would do. She was drunk. She wasn’t at her best. She might make some stupid mistake. He opened his mouth to stop her, but something about the way Issy was looking at him closed his mouth again. He glanced back at the blonde with the black cat costume chatting with the Zorro. Did she know who the Zorro was? He licked his lips again. The worry was probably never going to go away. It was because they were best friends and she was so nearly family.

Eyes found Israel again.. His tongue flicked out to wet his lips again. His stomach was being fussy again, feeling like a clenched fist. What was he supposed to say? Why had Israel wanted her to go talk to someone who could be some homicidal… god, he shouldn’t go there either. He took a deep breath and felt the need to say the obvious, “She… she’s gone.” Of course, she was still in sight. She wasn’t honestly gone. That was good. It was much more of a comfort to him. Maybe that was why Israel had pointed her in the Zorro’s direction rather than telling her to go outside to the maze or take a tour of the house. She would know the layout of the house anyway. She was used to the big houses as much as he was. They were both from rich families. Well, all three of them were fairly wealthy. It was probably how they had met.

“Now… now wh-what?”

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[ISRAEL JEREMIAH VALENTINE]

knox was, and always would be, the same boy israel knew back in his childhood. the same boy who he played with and got into trouble with and joked around with. nothing would change that. not even the truth about his sexuality. preference didn't change personality. it wasn't like israel would get it into his mind that the boy was a fairy now, skipping around spreading his gayness everywhere. that was the close-minded view he was sure his father would have. he had responded coldly enough to issy's lifestyle, the fact that he didn't care, but he had always hoped it was just because he knew when issy went out the chances increased of him getting in trouble because he was attracted to both genders. for a moment, he wondered how the man would react if he started going out with a boy, and of course that boy was knox. he really hoped he would understand, because love didn't discriminate. so what if he had a penis, he was sweet and kind and israel should be able to choose who he wanted to be with. and that was knox. now that he knew the truth...it seemed a little more possible. and even a little was more than enough for him.

at least raine didn't seem to bothered by the fact that he sent her to zorro. as close as she was to both of them, it still felt awkward to say and do things with her around. more so talk. even though he definitely wanted to do things. but first i want to make sure. he gave her a withering, but playful, look when she spoke of the kiss she didn't get to see and then shook his head when she flicked their noses. "of course i will, miss kitty cat," he said with gusto. he didn't get any less nervous when she left, though. there was still the turning of his stomach, a nervousness he never experienced, he had never felt it with anyone before. issy was always the one flirting and making advances and he was an overpowering sexual being but here he was contemplating if he should even touch knox, let alone kiss him like he wanted to. he wanted to feel his lips again, wanted to taste him and be close to him. issy had missed that ever since the moment they'd separated and he realized what he'd done. but now, there wouldn't have to be the guilt anymore.

but luckily knox looked as nervous as him. then again, he always looked nervous. it made him feel like he was fragile, something to be careful around so as not to disturb. easily hurt. and it wasn't meant to degrade him in any way, make him feel week, because he knew at the center of it knox wasn't like that. but still israel wanted to take care of him. it frightened him, how deep the feelings ran. he would have once hated himself for feeling like this, but those years without knox and they had been forgotten. he'd remember the earth in little moments, when he saw something or someone that reminded him of his childhood friend. then there would be that bittersweet clenching of his gut before he chased the thoughts away. now, all he thought about was knox. when he saw a flower, he wondered if the boy liked it, when he watched tv he wondered if knox watched the show as well. and he missed him when he wasn't around.

the heartbreaking part was that he didn't know if knox felt the same. and he would never know if he didn't work up the guts. he smiled as knox licked his lips, said that raine was gone. "off to wreak havoc," he said with a small smile on his lips. he was looking at knox, and for once the expression on his face was nervous. the stakes felt high, and he knew it was because of the intensity of his emotions. it was a rush. knox asked a similar question to earlier and he took a deep breath. "okay, so please tell me that...when i kissed you, you didn't just kiss back because...it was instinct or something." god, why was this so hard? why couldn't he just come right out with it, why did the butterflies in his stomach start flapping his wings again every time he so much as mentioned the word kiss around knox. "because i mean, when i did that i didn't even know if you were gay or not." he swallowed. "and i mean, i'd totally like to kiss you again. if you want. because i will." his eyes had been looking around, the people, the ceiling, the floor making an arc until they fell back to knox's with the last word, trying to gauge his reaction.

costume

[KNOX CAESAR KETILL]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=2][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,4,true] ( YOU BRING OUT THE MAGIC IN ME ) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - knox caesar ketill [bg=002211]

[atrb=width,100] ( word count , )

[/font]
9 1 3


( tag ,[/i] )[/size][/color]
starkeh && issy


( clothes ,[/i] )[/size][/color]
click for clothes


( commentary ,[/i] )[/size][/color]
brownie points if you get the reference
[/div][bg=002211][/td][td][atrb=width,150]

The more things seem to change, the more they stay the same. The more things seem to stay the same, the more they seem to change. Based off that, Knox had no idea what to believe when. Except when he knew something was changing. This… this was a change. It was more of a change than the kiss had been. Well, kisses. One, Issy had started. The other was his fault. He’d kissed Israel. He’d kissed him. That alone still made him nervous. He didn’t quite understand why he had, except that the initial kiss had been nice. Of course, it had been followed closely by guilt and fear and similar feelings to the ones being evoked now, by this very situation. Even though Raine seemed more interested in getting them together than she did in regards to being upset that they had kissed while she and the wind student were still technically dating, he was nervous. He was nervous that she was more upset than she let on, because he knew, theoretically, how even such small things could turn into ridiculously dramatic and even painful moments.

He watched her leave, wishing she’d stuck around so he wouldn’t be forced to make any decisions, because he knew she was the sort to jump in and interrupt him anyway. Why had Issy asked her to leave? He glanced at him, chewing on his bottom lip. He didn’t understand why Raine couldn’t be here for whatever conversation they were having. It might even be good for her to witness it. Hell, it might have made it easier for Knox to answer solely because she was his security blanket when he was stressing out. She was like a parent to him, almost, because his parents had so rarely been there for him. She was his strength. She was his speech. He could have whispered in her ear and left her to share what he was saying, like those two guys did on that one TV show she’d made him watch because one of the guys was scared of speaking in front of girls and he was really wishing he was in that TV show instead of where he actually happened to be there. On a TV show, he’d have a script. He’d know what to say. He didn’t know what to say now. He didn’t know what to do know. God, he didn’t even know what to think now.

The idea that Israel might kiss him again was far too appealing for him to even consider turning him down. Of course, that didn’t mean he’d be perfectly fine with agreeing to some heated session of kissing while in full view of the whole room, or any peopled room if he was being completely honest. Besides, the thought itself of a “heated” session frightened him a little. He barely knew what to do with a normal, chaste kiss. He’d be even more clueless when it came to more energetic touches. He knew enough about anatomy to guess, but he knew any attempts he might make would be awkward. Besides, it wasn’t something he was even comfortable thinking about. How could he be comfortable doing them? That was why he avoided writing romantic scenes in his stories. He didn’t know how to go about them without making them seem forced or awkward. It wasn’t something he could take from experience, though he’d read enough to get a general idea. He just couldn’t judge what went well and what went poorly.

And he shook his head in reply to the request, because he couldn’t find the words or the courage to express himself vocally. He hadn’t kissed him out of instinct. It hadn’t felt like a good idea at the time, no. It hadn’t felt like a smart thing to do. And yet, it had appealed to him so immensely he hadn’t really been able to stop himself. That had been enough to screw up more than he wished. Sure, Issy kissing him alone could have ruined the relationship between Raine and her boyfriend, but he felt almost like the kiss he initiated had made it worse. It had been longer, even a little more intense, though the chastity of both kisses couldn’t really be described as intense at all. It was just so confusing. He was just so befuddled.

Technically, he hadn’t asked if Knox wanted to be kissed again. There had been no question. He still felt compelled to answer, though, partially because he didn’t want it to seem as though he happened to be turning down his friend. His friend who seemed to be turning into something a little more than a friend. Dear, that was just as scary and it honestly shouldn’t have been. Maybe it was only scary because Israel now knew one of the two secrets he kept closest to his heart. It would be only a matter of time before he discovered the other one and then… then Knox felt as though he’d be completely exposed, and he didn’t like the idea. He figured it to be uncomfortable, and it made him feel shallow. Shallow because, of all the facets a personality was supposed to have, there were only two things to discover about him. And though the word came with extreme difficulty, he was glad that he had no alcohol to make it easier. Alcohol would have stolen the sincerity, the seriousness when he allowed a short nod and whispered, “Please.”

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[ISRAEL JEREMIAH VALENTINE]

if israel could just calm his hormones, he'd surely make this situation a lot better. he'd be able to breathe easy, he'd be able to think straight. but then again, that was counter productive to what he really wanted. he looked at his cup. what he really wanted was to get flat out drunk. that sounded like a good idea. then he wouldn't have to worry about any of this and he'd be able to keep his eyes from staring at knox's chest constantly. or rather, if he was drunk, then that would be forgivable. anything could be excused because of drunkenness. he could just make out with the earth graduate and laugh it off as being the booze's fault. maybe it was a horrible thing to think of, using drinking as a way not to be blamed for any move that he made. but it was with good intent -- he was nervous. he didn't want to make any mistakes with knox. somehow he felt like he already made a grand total. the guilt of their first kiss had ebbed away mostly, but there were little prickles that reminded him. even though raine was easy, breezy and remarkably accepting. maybe he should have been offended that she'd gotten over him so quickly, but he knew that wasn't how their situation was. this wasn't a normal love triangle that they had found themselves in. and luckily, it wasn't a love triangle anymore.

he blinked. he'd just heard him right, didn't he? whatever he'd been expecting, it wasn't that one word that made his heart thump in his chest. he knew that a part of him -- the part that could accept rejection -- had been joking. in a self-loathing kind of way, of course, as if making his wants known he would be shot down and could accept that this was as hopeless as he thought it would turn out to be. his pessimistic thoughts worked against him even when things were looking up, when raine so drunkenly told him that yeah, knox preferred guys and israel was a guy. but no one could say if he was the guy. and so he looked at knox with a heavy heart when joking around in all his guru pitka glory, wondering how drunk he could get tonight. but now...now the tables had turned. his eyes flickered down to the other boy's lips, his heart still slamming against his rib cage. please. the word was tantalizing, and he turned it over and over in his head. of course, as he did so, he had to ask himself why in the hell was he waiting, why was he contemplating this?

in the next moment, he was grinning, slipping his free arm around knox's waist. the skin on skin contact drove him wild, and mischief danced in his eyes. it wasn't long before he was pressing his lips against knox's, not caring if anyone was looking at them. it was a non-issue at this point. all he knew was that knox was warm and half naked and since he pleaded with him to do it, issy had no reservations at all. this wasn't like last time -- this wasn't a kiss that he would regret afterward, because he knew that this was okay. in most ways. for once he didn't feel awkward about having a crush on his ex-girlfriend's best friend, and all he knew was that he wished there weren't so many people around. take it slow, his mind chided himself. he didn't want to get too far ahead of himself in his mind, didn't want to overstep any boundaries the other boy might have had. so he just enjoyed tasting his mouth, his drink poised in his outstretched hand next to him. he couldn't remember last time anything had felt this good.

issy pulled away, eyes still dancing when he opened them. he didn't pull his hand back, however, didn't really want to. what he wanted to do was kiss him again, several times actually. his stomach was twisting in pleasant knots. he didn't think it could get any better. the guy he had had a crush on for ages reciprocated his feelings? at least on some level? it was like the best kind of romcom he could think of. well, the weirdest romcom considering the fact that he had to break up with raine and he ended up with a guy and he was ninety percent sure that he couldn't find a similar plot if he tried. "how was that for a kiss?" he said with a wink. not the stereotypical old sailor wink, but the the sexy "if you know what i mean" wink. he felt on top of the world in that moment, and it was all he could do not to scoop the gladiator up in his arms and usher him into one of the rooms in this mansion.

costume

[KNOX CAESAR KETILL]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=2][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,4,true] ( YOU BRING OUT THE MAGIC IN ME ) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - knox caesar ketill [bg=002211]

[atrb=width,100] ( word count , )

[/font]
1 1 0 3


( tag ,[/i] )[/size][/color]
starkeh && issy


( clothes ,[/i] )[/size][/color]
click for clothes


( commentary ,[/i] )[/size][/color]
Knox got a bit rambly >> <<
[/div][bg=002211][/td][td][atrb=width,150]

He was nervous about the reaction he’d be receiving. Part of him wasn’t quite so anxious about it. That part of him was the bit that remembered the afternoon at his house. The afternoon that Issy had kissed him and he’d kissed Issy even though he was supposed to be tutoring the wind. They’d gotten to that, after. After Issy had almost left and Knox didn’t know why he’d asked him to stay until today. He hadn’t really thought about it because thinking about it meant acknowledging that he’d done something like that behind his best friend’s back with his best friend’s boyfriend and that he might have revealed his secret. Of course, since then, Raine had revealed the secret for him. She and Issy were no longer dating, so any kisses now were okay. And he really liked those kisses. They made him understand how Raine could be addicted to kissing. The other part of him was nervous that Issy had completely lost any interest whatsoever, that maybe the kiss had been an overly long metaphor or extended prank that Issy was pulling on him and Raine was in on it, but that was probably all the paranoia talking, and he was really beginning to suspect that his paranoia was at a level nearing unhealthy. Okay, so the overdeveloped ploy wasn’t likely. So maybe this was real. And maybe Issy would honestly be happy that he had requested the kiss.

Even so, he hardly expected it when suddenly Issy was sliding an arm around his middle and tugging him closer. His eyes focused on those in front of him, a pair that promised things to come that wouldn’t necessarily be approved of in a G-rated movie. Eyes that were coming closer… closer… He closed his eyes when he felt the mouth, remembering form movies he’d seen that was what you were supposed to do. God. How often had been kissed in his lifetime? Not the kisses his mother gave him. Not when his father had given him CPR at the beach that one time because he’d nearly drowned. This was drowning, too, but one much more pleasant and much less pleasant at the same time. He was drowning in confusion, drowning in overwhelming thought processes that rushed through his mind like trains and crashed exactly as they did. He didn’t know what to do. He wasn’t used to kisses, even if he liked them, and he definitely wasn’t the sort to watch other people making out. That was rude and rather uncomfortable, at least of him. He didn’t like watching others make out in the courtyard between classes (or even in classes when the professor wasn’t paying attention).

Which brought his mind to the people around them. They were at a party. They were in public. And the people in public would be seeing Guru Pitka mixing saliva with a gladiator and neither their faces were obscured and oh god, he shouldn’t be thinking about that but he just couldn’t help it. His hand found itself to the sleeve over Issy’s bicep, grabbing the fabric with every intention of pulling him away, but… it just didn’t happen. He slid backward a little, yes, but that was for support from the wall behind him and not meant for him to actually move away although a bit of his brain was screaming at him to do exactly that. After all, there could be people watching. And there was the beauty of the thing. There could be. That didn’t mean there actually were. Potential was so much different from actual, from realization of that potential. So, as long as he managed to convince himself that Issy’s head properly obscured his face and that no one would care very much if two people were kissing in the corner next to the refrigerator, he’d be fine. For the moment. He’d probably still freak out afterward, but he was just nervous like that. He was such a nervous person that he sometimes was amazed that he wasn’t in a constant panic attack (though if that were the case, the adrenaline and other chemicals would probably have killed him by now considering his low tolerance level).

Issy released him from what was beginning to feel like a hypnotist’s trance. His mouth suddenly felt cold compared to the rest of him, which was crazy but true. He already missed the kiss. The ridiculousness of young love was just beginning to make more and more sense to him, though he was pretty sure this wasn’t love. However, it was, at the very least, a pretty severe crush. And it only reminded him that he felt horrible because it had made Issy and Raine break up. Maybe they’d be happier apart, but surely Raine wasn’t happy about it. Did she blame him on some level? Probably. He’d kissed Issy back, after all. He sort of wanted her to blame him, but… He couldn’t picture an extreme blame. She was just such a moderate person. She didn’t really hate people, from what he’d observed, and from what she’d told him, though she also, like so many other people, casually used the word when she disliked someone. Hate was simple to say and hard to grasp. It was just such an intense implication. Intense like this moment was turning out to be.

The question only increased the blush, amplified it so he was convinced Issy must think he’d just kissed a tomato or a red delicious apple (whether he was actually delicious was a topic he would rather avoid at this point in time). He didn’t have a response for it. He wasn’t really sure what was a good kiss or a bad kiss, if there were even technical definitions for them. He suppose that they were probably defined by whether the participants or recipients enjoyed the process, but he was so unfamiliar with that, though he leaned toward a rather definite yes, he honestly couldn’t say whether he had or had not like the kiss. No, that was a lie. He had liked them. But then, he was not the most discerning subject, considering his history, or rather lack thereof. Instead, he offered a different question: “Could… could we… fi-find somewhere… m-more pri-private-private?” He was increasingly conscious of all the people mingling around them. Raine wasn’t among them, from what he could see. She must have disappeared with the Zorro or someone else. God, he hoped she was okay. God, he hoped there was a part of the party that wasn’t this crowded. A part that was deserted.

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[ISRAEL JEREMIAH VALENTINE]

though israel could be a romantic guy, he also got carried away, a lot. how could he not? this was the man he'd wanted for so long, and he had him finally and in this moment he could forget about the trials that had got him here. the fact that he had essentially led raine on without realizing it, the fact that he hadn't even known about knox's preferences until this night. now that the earth graduate was in his arms, he didn't care about anyone else who may have been viewing them, voyeurs who got a front row seat to the public display of affection. he was used to showing his love, he was used to making sure that everyone knew exactly how he felt about one person. he wanted no mistakes. he wouldn't sit in the mess hall and make out with his boyfriend/girlfriend the entire time, but he would make it known that he was proud to be with another person. he would be willing to kiss them and hold them and talk to them like only a lover would.

the idea thrilled him, being knox's lover. even when he thought about his past had been filled with people who had much more experience than the earth -- issy himself had much more experience. he didn't have a huge list, but it was long enough compared to what he expected to be his own. he didn't realize that there was a gap in experience until raine let it out. the water girl really was the catalyst for everything, wasn't she? he was glad that he could be, that he could press his lips against knox's and feel his pulse under his fingertips as they brushed against his neck, and it was all so real that he could barely believe it. he wanted to be real, wanted this to last forever, beyond the end of the night. the only question was if he could have knox for that long. would he be able to be with him?

after he pulled back, looked the boy in the eyes, he wondered just how he could ever have a chance with him. to issy, he'd always been unreachable. so quiet and far off, an image behind a screen that he could only fantasize about. those fantasies had been forgotten for a while, buried, faded, but now they were brought up anew and he was the slave to any whim that knox had. even if the other boy didn't feel as strongly as he did. his passion often reached an apex that he himself could sometimes barely imagine, and it wouldn't surprise him if knox's feelings weren't as strong. he just wouldn't think about that right now, he didn't want to. not in this small piece of perfection.

"yeah, there is..." he said, a glint in his eye before he took knox's hand and guided him through people. the place was huge, but he found the back door and went outside. it was dark now, and people were drifting around aimlessly. "i've been wanting to do this." the maze loomed before them, high and intimidating. but he looked at knox and nodded with his head as he continued to pull with his hand. there were not a lot of other people in it, and he found a section that seemed free. he turned so that he could press knox against the shrub, his hands on his face as he kissed the other boy again. his tongue delved in to explore, and he was happier than he had been for a while. ever since the accident things hadn't been the same, not really, he could sense it even in himself. he never let anyone in, either, and perhaps he never properly dealt with it. he had never experienced death before in any form, not even that of a pet, so he couldn't say what was the right or the wrong way. but knox made him happier. not just happier, but actually confident and gleeful and--

he separated as he felt something curl around his stomach. before he could think, he was pulled back into the adjacent wall, a hedge with small, blood red flowers growing in it. issy tried to struggle, but more vines pulled his hands away and he had effectively become one with the wall. "knox...i think we have a bit of a problem here..." he was an earth student, right? he could help? but the question was how in the hell he had ended up in this position. nell. he blinked. their friend had made this, right? that meant she could also control it as well. he sighed. i was really getting into it, too. above the feeling of disappoint, there was the keen sense of fear and if he would be getting out if this predicament any time soon.

costume

[KNOX CAESAR KETILL]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=2][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,4,true] ( YOU BRING OUT THE MAGIC IN ME ) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - knox caesar ketill [bg=002211]

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starkeh && issy


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click for clothes


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This post was written under the influence of Disney music. I have no clue whether this had any affect on the writing, but be prepared.
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Knox was not generally an intense person. Sure, he could be passionate about some things and some topics. It was easy to be passionate about something he knew well and cared for a great deal, like his writing, like some books he’d read and fallen in love with. However, even though he and Israel had been close friends as children, they hadn’t spoken in… a long time. He didn’t know if he could say that he knew the wind elemental well. He didn’t know how much the other had changed. He didn’t know how much he changed. He didn’t know a lot of things, and that was definitely something he wasn’t used to. He was used to being the one who did know things. The one who had the answers, even if he was too shy to share them. Now, though, it seemed like the roles were reversed from their tutoring session. Israel was the one who had the experience and the knowledge, and he was tentatively leading Knox wherever they were going, emotionally or even physically—as he was doing now.

As the cold enveloped them outside, Knox found his faze drifting up to the sky and his mind wandering. It ignored that they were holding hands, because it didn’t seem important, because it seemed appropriate, and because he really didn’t want to worry at the moment. Someone was bound to see, but maybe the image could be explained by alcohol or the mere act of leading. Again, he didn’t know. He was starting to accept the fact, though he didn’t much like it. It was just something you had to deal with. Like the moon hiding behind the clouds, keeping the back yard dark and somehow seeming to silence all the insects he might have heard otherwise. Like the stars glittering like diamonds or pearls or other gems up against the dark navy ceiling, as if someone had thought it was a good idea to stitch sequins into the darkness. Knox didn’t disagree with the thoughts. He liked that they had stars. He liked there was a sun that kept the whole planet alive, and he liked there were stars elsewhere in the universe for astronomers to study and casual stargazers to dream about and science fiction writers to describe visits to.

The maze suddenly crawled up around him, and he looked forward, blinking to adjust to the masses of green he was suddenly surrounded by, studying the growth and wondering how long Nell had spent trying to raise these plants. He had a feeling she had made a quite intricate maze for the party-goers to get lost in. She was the sort who he expected would go all out in something like that, especially since she was one of the hosts of the party. His other question, however, remained with the idea that he’d never associated Halloween with a maze, except for the occasional decorations he noticed among the brush. He was easily frightened, but what they ran into was, for the most, not nearly bad enough to give him an anxiety attack. Sure, it’d probably be scarier if he were alone, and probably even more so if things were jumping out at him, but Israel appeared to have chosen the best path for avoiding such things. Had he been in here before? It was probably better not to question, like he sometimes felt the world would be more peaceful if people didn’t question where it came from (which he recognized to be an impossible feat because people were insanely inquisitive).

And then suddenly he was pushed against the one wall and he was warm again as Israel stepped closer and he found himself attempting to understand the logistics of having two tongues in his mouth and what to do with his own as well as the foreign one. His hands slid up to curve around Israel’s cheeks, his eyes closed less from understanding the accepted and more from concentration as he worked through the motions carefully, awkwardly, not sure what to. There came the disadvantages of being with someone who did know what to do, though he supposed it was also a good thing. Israel would simply have to lead for a while, until he got the hang of it. He had no idea how long that would take, how much “practice” and how many tutoring sessions that would end up having nothing at all to do with academics. Raine was really rubbing off on him, wasn’t she?

Unfortunately, he felt like he was just barely beginning to get the hang of it (or so he thought), the wind student stepped away and Knox’s hands slid down to his shoulders instead. They were making out in a maze on Halloween. Of course something was bound to happen to make it feel like Halloween. He glanced down as his friend was being pulled backwards, and reached for the vine curled about his stomach. The wind was pulled away too quickly, however, though Knox lurched after him, trying to grasp something, anything, to pull him free.

He was too late.

Israel had disappeared from sight.

His heart beating so quickly he thought it would outrace a mouse’s, pounding in his ears as the blood rushed to his limbs and adrenaline took over, he ran his hands over the growth, tying very much not to freak out and scooting closer to that cliff. “Is-Israel?” he forced out nervously, his throat and mouth dry enough to threaten that speech might hurt soon if he kept it up. God, what…

Nell. Of course.

The realization of the culprit didn’t help any, of course, because it didn’t reverse the effect. He didn’t know if their powers would cancel each other out, or if she was stronger so he’d just be wasting his time, or if he happened to be stronger and this would be a fruitful effort. He didn’t know. Of course, fear did nothing to help him accomplish anything, especially with his powers. Being afraid was like pulling the plug that kept the power turned ‘on’ at any point in time. What was he supposed to do? He ran his fingers over the vines, tugging at those that seemed loose enough to be open to being pulled free. No success. His eyes were water, probably because he wasn’t letting the fear out in any other way. His fingers trembled as they combed over the branches. “Israel? Ah-Ah-Are you-you… are you ok-okay?” he said, trying to achieve volume so he would be heard, but doubting he’d manage such a thing, wishing only that Israel would respond with an affirmative. He didn’t want to break down completely, for Christ’s sake!

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