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Ɉϕɧɳ Ӎiҫɧϵɑɭ Gɍϵϵɳϵ

(())

John felt he could trust Tao now, since Tao did admit to him being a thief. A dishonest man, in John's eyes, wouldn't admit to such a thing. "I see. I guess I could see the appeal in a such lifestyle. But, I don't think I could do it myself. I'm too much of....uhhh...of a nice person! There we go!" John didn't want to say naive or dumb. Thus, he went with nice. He moved back to the chair as Tao explained why he couldn't take the flower. A small nod was all John gave to him on that comment.

When Tao explained the possible reasons Darius compared the two, John chuckled and grinned. "Knowing Darius, he thought about mose of those reasons. Though, I think the dashing or being like the sky to him would be a bit...off. But, if that is what you think, then I thank you for the compliements." John decided to place the stuff down and take off his boots. He wiggled his toes as he thought about if he needed to go outside. The mountain wouldn't be around here. Also, the landscape around here couldn't be used as a reference. But also, John wanted a moment of lazyness.

"Actually, I feel like staying. We both need rest. You for your wounds, and mine for my feet!" John had walked for almost two hours before sitting down in the music room. They were quite sore because of that. He rubbed them as he looked over at the bed. "You can lie down and nap if you want. I don't mind. I'm going to be working on my painting anyway. Which reminds me...."John looked through his painting kit. He pulled out a shirt and pants that had paint on them. Without thinking too much, John shugged off his current shirt.

He rubbed his back slightly as the paint shirt was in the other hand. His chest was hairless with a bit of abs. A few scars criss crossed it from battle, but they were white. They almost blended into his alabster skin. His muscles were there, but they weren't obnxious with their presence. But, it was enough to show John was physically fit for sure.

John was about to take off his pants, when he looked over at Tao. A red blush appeared on his face. "Uhhhh, I..uhhhh." John knew he had done it this time! He was used to undressing and dressing quickly in front of men. After all, the men usually bathed in the same lakes. However, John had never done it in front of a guy that was interested in him! Thus, it felt both embrassing and akward this time around. "I-i-i'm just going to go in there now!" John quickly ran into the bathroom with the pants and shirt, shutting the door behind him.

Gah! I'm a idiot! He smacked himself and calmed himself down. Once calmed, he took off his pants and changed into his paint covered shirt and pants. After taking a few deep breaths, John quickly walked over to the chair and sat. He did his best to ignore what had happened. His pants, except for the paint and them being torn off at the knnes, was the same as the last ones. But, the shirt he wore now was a bit more revealing. It had a v-neck that ran down to about mid-ab, with the bottom part of the shirt held together by leather strings. Also, the sleeves ended at his shoulders. Thus, his arms were quite visible. John had thought nothing of the choice.

He got out his stuff and set it up. Once he finished, John's mind was completely on working on the painting. His hand dipped into the paints as he delicately worked on the lake nearby the mountain. With this, John had completely forgotten about Tao being in the room at all.

Ɉϕɧɳ Ӎiҫɧϵɑɭ Gɍϵϵɳϵ

(())

John didn't hear much of what Tao had said about his outfit. His mind was on the painting. However, the words did implant themselves into his head. Thus, on a subconscious level, he felt the need to respond. "Well, I'm glad you are enjoying the view. However, this is a see, don't touch view. Unless well, I tell you can." A small smirk appeared as he kept painting. If John was asked in a few minutes if he had said that, he wouldn't remember. At least, not for a few minutes.

While one hand held the brush, the other held another type of utensil. One he used to help create texture, such as the ripples in the lake. As he started to finish the lake, John turned his head towards Tao. A few seconds of staring blanky was soon followed by a embrassed blush. "S-s-sorry. I forgot you were there for a second!" John felt rude for ignoring Tao. However, he was best as painting when his mind wasn't split in two. Though, John did realize he had forgotten something important. Water. "Gah! How could I forget water?" He smacked himself on the forehead gently as he stood up, adjusting his shirt and pants. "Now, where's that damn bucket?" His mouth usually went from cursing to non-cursing, something that could throw a person off.

John walked over to Tao, crouching down beside the bed. His arm went under the bed, searching for the water bucket. "You know, this is what I get for being so unorganized! Oh well! I've never been organized person." Eventually, John found the bucket and looked at Tao from over the edge of the bed. "Hey, um, I just thought about something. Did you get any food when you were in the dining hall earlier? I don't remember seeing you eat..." John tilted his head as he got up and opened the bathroom door. "If you need something, I think I got some nice apples in that bag over there. Just, don't look in the bag next to it. That's where I keep the little amount clothes I feel like carrying around. Unless, you need clothing. Then, I guess you can borrow some." There was another reason. His sketchbook was in there, and some of the drawings he didn't want others to see.

He went into the bathroom and used the water, for bathing, for the bucket. Once finished, he walked back into the room and placed it down. "Much better! Back to work!" He dipped the brush into the water, moving it around slowly. Once he thought it was washed, John dipped it into a different color and started working on the trees.

Ɉϕɧɳ Ӎiҫɧϵɑɭ Gɍϵϵɳϵ

(())

John ignored Tao's first comment, not remembering making a comment to Tao about that. Then, he heard Tao talk about how John forgot about him. He felt extremely horrible for that. "Yeah, umm, when I paint, I kind of forget about people around me and such. It's kind of bad. Considering if I don't be careful, someone could stab me in the back, and I wouldn't know it!" It was something John worried about a little. However, the seal put on him by Haven should still be active. But, I got to remember that will only work once. After that, I'm toast.

When Tao made a comment about his mouth, John couldn't help but chuckle. "Please, don't call me potty mouth until you see me angry. My fellow battle mates will tell you I have the mouth of a sailor. The problem, is that it takes a lot to get me pissed off. Thus, you'll probably not see it." Unless you do something that really gets me angry. But, I'm not going to let him know what can automacially get me that pissed off.

After hearing Tao's comment on the servants, John shook his head as he washed the brush again. "I don't like asking them to do things for me. They got to deal with the rest of the nobles! Besides, I feel wrong treating them as if they are lower than me. I should be able to keep after myself." John started mixing colors together to get the right one. "I mean, I wouldn't want clean after someone's elses mess. Why should I make others do it?" It was true John had a tendency to forget to clean. But overall, he made sure his room wasn't a complete pig stie.

"You sure? I don't mind giving them away. I only need one for modeling in case I want to draw fruit." Though, I still need to acquire some different fruit. A bowl full of apples just seem so...plain. As he went about painting, a bit of coldness ran right across his shoulder. His body jumped slightly as he glared towards the door.

"Darius! You shouldn't do that!" John glared at the ghost, who laughed at him.

"John, even after all these years, I can still sneak up on your a**!"

"Shut the ******** up!"

"Potty mouth!"

"God! You have somehow got worse at pushing my buttons!"

"Yeah, yeah. But, that's not why I'm here." John raised an eyebrow, not knowing the channel was open. Thus, Tao would be able to hear the conversation between him and Darius. "I'm here because a little birdy told me that you got a dude hitting on you!" His eyes seemed both playful and annoyed to John. I can't tell if he likes that idea or not.

"Y-yeah! So what?"

"Dude! You can test out that curiousity of yours! Figure out if the male gender is actually...nice." John rolled his eyes as he looked over his lake.

"Oh yeah, using a guy I just met to test out my curiousity is so the right thing to do!"

"Aw come on! It's not like he isn't wanting to use you. I mean, I bet if he did get into your pants, he would be gone the moment he finished!"

"And you would know that how?"

"Because he is man-whore! Simple as that!" His friend's eyes became almost angry. It made John both surprised and annnoyed.

"Ok, what is your problem? Yes, he is bit perverted, but going as far as man-whore is a bit much, don't ya think?"

"Please! I heard him going at it with that one guard in the dungeaon. Though I do admit, that guy didn't last long!" John blushed extremely red, not wanting to know of Tao's past antics.

"S-s-s-so what? He slept with a guy! That makes him a whore how?"

"Once a whore, always a whore."

"That's in your opinion." John frowned as he hoped Tao wasn't hearing this. Why in the hell is Darius being so mean? He is really being a jerk!

"So if you have nothing nice to say, go shoo off!"

"I'm just warning you. He's probably going to use you. When he does, I'll be around." John shook his head as he finished one of his trees. His eyes caught a glimpse of Darius disappearing before John sighed. What's his problem? He had no idea as to why Darius hated Tao. Thus, John just shook off the strange conversation and went back to his painting, not knowing Tao had heard the whole past conversation.

Ɉϕɧɳ Ӎiҫɧϵɑɭ Gɍϵϵɳϵ

(())

John felt too frustrated to continue the painting. Even though he had tried to get over the convesation, he couldn't. Darius was fine before now. I hope his spirit isn't trying to becmoe corrupt or anything. A small sigh urputed as he placed the paintbrush nearby the canvas. I'll work on it once I'm calmed down. Making Tao say perverted things should do the trick! Admittely, John thought the teasing fest between them was amusing. But, when he got up and looked over at Tao, John could see something was off.

As John replayed over the conversation, he realized something. He never shut the channel. Oh s**t! This is all my fault! I should have closed the channel! John didn't know that Tao had already close it. After Tao hearing that, he wasn't sure the thief would even want to talk to John anymore. A frown appeared at that idea. I have bad luck when it comes to hurting others. Don't I? He walked over and sat on the bed, looking down at Tao. The thief's eyes seemed to be staring at a small crack in the wall.

He bit his lip, trying to figure out what to say or do. His mind throught through some possibilities, but they just didn't seem right to him. They all seemed...lacking. Because of this, John just went with his instinct. I just hope this doesn't look wierd. But, I know when I was younger and depressed, this helped me a lot.

John lied down next to Tao, his front facing Tao's back. Then, he wrapped his arms around Tao's waist, pulling him closer to him. His head nuzzled the back of Tao's in a comforting manner. "I'm not sure you can hear me. I understand if you closed your mind to me, after hearing that conversation." His eyes looked down as felt more guilt going through him. "But, I guess...I am sorry, but just saying I'm sorry to you right now feels so...lacking. It feels like anything I can think of to make you feel better would just be...not good enough." John closed his eyes as a sighed went through the mental link.

"I've never been good with words, as you can see from my rambling right now." John felt a bit embrassed at that disability. "But Tao...hmmm, I guess I'll just be blunt. If it freaks you out, well, I'll just leave and give you space." He felt confident with this route, always feeling himself when he was blunt and honest. "Even if you did...sleep with the guard, I don't think you are a bad person for that. I mean, everyone has their...needs. Sometimes, they satisfy with their owns hands, and sometimes with others." John blushed at the reference to doing one's own self. "Honestly, I don't think you are a bad person at all. Yeah, you are a bit of a flirtious pervert, but I like that actually. It's quite..amusing." A small appeared on his face at that idea. "I mean, you stood up to my mother for petty sakes! That takes a strong person to feel that they should do that, knowing they could get punished."

"But, that goes to show you are a good person. Even if others would see otherwise, due to your past crimes, I'll always remember you as the flirtious pervert with a good heart and who has guts." John chuckled a little at that. "I guess in the end, I'm just saying that you shouldn't take what my friend said to heart. You know you aren't those things, and you must be bored hearing me retell that to you." His grip around Tao's waist lessened as he moved to sit back up again. John looked down towards Tao with his back now facing John's back. "Anyway, I won't bother you anymore. I'll let you rest, and I'll get back to my painting."

He stood up then and walked back over to the chair. The words he uttered to Tao had made him feel better. I guess I like doing that more than I thought. His eyes looked back over to the thief before he sat down and tried to get back into the mood for painting.

Ɉϕɧɳ Ӎiҫɧϵɑɭ Gɍϵϵɳϵ

((I just had to say Lies. Your signature is fricking funny! xD I'm sorry for the long a** post again! I swear, John is wanting to talk too much right now! Lol. ))

John rubbed his hand, still feeling the warmth of Tao's hand. He shook his head as his eyes focused on the painting. However, he heard everything Tao had said to him. The last sentence said was hard to make out, but he did hear it. John looked over at Tao once he was finished. The thief was staring at the ceiling. A frown appeared as he walked back over. This time, he crouched beside the bed and placed his arms and head on the bed itself. His head rested against the palms of his hands, his elbows against the bed. Once he felt he had enough leverage, John looked down at Tao.

"It's nice to know you wouldn't make me leave my room." A small smile appeared on his face. However, the frown appeared again as he realized Tao wouldn't be cheered up by that remark. "So what? To others, you're no good. To me, you are good. As long as one person thinks you are good, you don't need to give a damn about what others say to you." John grinned as he ruffled Tao's hair playfully as he looked at Tao's eyes. "I mean, ever since I was born, I've been no good to most people. Honestly, what King and Queen wants a son that would whether be out traveling and fighting, than sitting around yaking about politics and ordering people around like their dogs?" John chuckled a little at that.

"You know, I'm pretty sure you've noticed I'm a bit strange. But, that isn't as bad as it seems." He bit his lip as he lied back on the bed, but in the opposite direction of Tao. His feet placed themselves on the bed frame behind Tao while his head looked up at the ceiling. "You see, when I joined military when I was around...thirthteen...fourteen? Can't remember exactly. Anyway, all I knew was the castle walls and the castle itself. So had everyone else in the family. But, I decided to find a way out, even if that meant fighting in a war that I didn't want to be a part of." John outstretched his hand towards the ceiling and grinned. " My parents got so angry at me when they found out. But, when one of the military guys saw my fighting potenital, he vouched for me. Because of him, I was allowed to stay. Because of him, I soon realized exactly what I wanted in life."

John took out one of his throwing knives, twirling around the fingers of his right hand. "I eventually got promoted to where I led my own squad. We were mostly...spies. We would go into Wraith and try to find out anything that could help Fortitude out." He straighten his shirt before continiung. "At first, I thought I was going to get us all killed. I hadn't lead for s**t in my life! But somehow, I saved all our asses when one of the Wraith people spotted us. Every since then, I was respected. Not because I was a prince, but because of what I've done." His eyes focused on the throwing knife before throwing it at a hole in the ceiling. The throwing knife stucked inside the hole as he placed his arms behind his head. "I realized then that I didn't understand anything about royalty. I mean, I didn't get why us being born into a castle, of a certain bloodline, and having a particular title made us any different from the people I fought with. Then, I realized I had always thought like that. When I was younger, my parents would scolde me for playing with the servants and not interacting with fellow noble children."

"To my parents, I was damn good for nothing prince that didn't know how to act like that. In actuality, I was a prince whose heart just wasn't in the castle. Mine was out there." John smiled warmly as he took out another throwing knife, pointing it towards the window. "To the people I fought with however, I was a damn good leader that they could trust with their backs." He sat up then and smiled at Tao. "Sometimes, no...always, there are going to be people that think you are a damn good for nothing. But there is always going to people that see your true potential. The people that see you...for you." Gah! That was corny. He shook his head as he put up the throwing knife.

"Honestly? To show you how much I don't get about royalty, let me point something out to you." John pointed to his room. "Have you noticed how plain my room is? How it seems to be more funcitional than for its looks? That's because I don't want fancy rooms that don't function worth a lick!" He chuckled a bit at that. "I don't want tons of money, I don't want to live in extravengce that is made up of money that the people deserve, I don't want to sit around and have ******** parties all the damn time while people are dying outside!" John glared at the window before the smile returned and his arms crossed over his chest. "I don't even like being here! Most don't, but I don't because I want to be out there fighting. Saving people's lives, helping people, not sitting around and being some damn pawn for some God!" He moved to where he balanced on the edge of the bed, his hand placed against the windowsill as his eyes looked outside.

"I know what I want in life. I want to be a man that can change things for the people, whether that be out in the field or ruling a country. I don't care. I mean, yeah, I prefer it out in the field. Because, that is something easier for me to understand. It also gets me close to the people. It allows me to see exactly what they truely want, what they are truely going through." John smiled slightly to himself as he looked down towards the bed. "Haven is loved by the people because he understands them in a way I don't. But, I also understand them in a way he doesn't. Something that allows us to have two different perspectives on the same issue." John looked over at Tao and laughed loudly. "But, I have yaked enough! Though for some reason, it is really easy talking to you. Don't know why." He smiled as he moved now, his back was lying against the bedframe behind Tao's head. John looked down with his hand on one side of Tao's head while the other was resting at John's left hip.

"But enough about me, what to you wish for in life? What do you want to do, before you die? I mean, you must have some reason for living. You must have something you wish for." John tilted his head as he looked down at Tao.

Ɉϕɧɳ Ӎiҫɧϵɑɭ Gɍϵϵɳϵ

(( ))

John smiled at the compliement involving him and his brother. "Yeah, I guess you are right there. I was hoping to be his right hand man when he ruled. But it seems plans have changed..." He never expected himself to rule a kingdom, let alone be anything more than what he was. Even though John had the wish he did, he didn't think he would do it through ruling. Now, it seems that this is just another way I can change something. Even if the change wouldn't happen in Fortitiude...

He blushed slightly when he felt Tao's head against him. Admittedly, John wasn't used to such contact from someone he just met not long ago. However, I do have to admit. It does feel nice. When Tao mentioned how that happened to others, John nodded and frowned. "It is sad that it happens. You would think the parents would love their children, no matter what. I guess we live in times where that doesn't happen." He adjusted himself against the bedframe, grateful he knew how to keep his wings in his back.

When Tao compliemented his room, he nodded and smiled at him. "I thank you for the compliement. I'm not sure everyone would think that, but I appreciate it nether the less."

Once Tao started answering his question, John stayed silent. He had felt bad for talking so fast, and so much earlier. Thus, John felt it was Tao's turn to speak a whole bunch. As he talked, Tao had sat up and leaned against him. He smiled slightly as he ran his hand through Tao's hair. His hair feels quite nice. I wonder if mine feels nice? John ran a hand through his, trying to figure out which one felt better. He couldn't figure it out. You would think it would be easy, but our hair feels...somewhat similiar. When he realized the hand in the hair could be akward, John blushed and took it out. Instead, John rested it around Tao's waist as he looked up at the ceiling.

However, when Tao looked over at him, John made sure to be looking back. After all, looking like you aren't paying attention is bad. He listened as Tao talked more about his past, mentioning how he acquired the bracelet. A burst of curiousity ran through him, and John looked down at the bracelet. It does look old and beaten up. So, Tao is probably right it didn't belong to royalty. And yet...it is a powerful item. I wonder where it came from? His hand took Tao's and raised it closer to his face, looking at the bracelet around Tao's wrist. "I wish I could say I recognize it, but I do not. It looks nothing like anything I've heard of. Knowing that, it probably was honestly created by a god or sometihng. They do say their artifacts look nothing like anyone has ever seen." John placed Tao's hand back down and looked back over at him.

Admittedly, John hadn't expected Tao to say he wanted to find someone. He tilted his head at him, trying to understand. "So, you are saying you want someone that will accept you, and be by your side, no matter what?" His mind couldn't exactly fathom that possibility for himself. But, in his heart, John did believe Tao could find that person. Someday. "I admit, I have wanted the same at certain points in my life. But I've...given up on it myself." A small flicker of regret went through him when he said that. "I always thought no one would want to deal with someone who doesn't fit into either royality or peasantry. Someone who dreams probably a bit too much, and views the world in a such a...strange way." He looked up at the ceiling and smiled slightly to himself.

"I do admit. When you give up on the possibility of finding someone like that, it makes you feel...lonely. I mean yeah, I'm getting married sometime soon. But it won't be the damn same." He frowned as he looked towards Tao. "I am to marry a woman who needs energy to live. An energy she can only get through physical contact. Something I can't always give her. " John looked down at his hands as he continued. "I feel nothing towards her, and I don't think I'll ever really know her...She is a woman full of secrets. Secrets that wish I could know, but feel she will never tell me."

A sigh erputed and a false chuckle sounded through the channel. "But look at me! I'm fricking complaining about this as if it is the end of the world! I should be happy to have maybe a wife that could even remotely stand me! But, I'm not." John closed his eyes and leaned back against the bedframe. "I don't want to be married like this. I always imagined myself either alone, or marrying the person that I imagined being with for the rest of my life. But it seems fate had other plans..." John looked at Tao and smiled slightly at him. "God, I must be annoying you with this talk. I sound like some damn hopeless romantic right now." John couldn't help but chuckle at his own comment.

Ɉϕɧɳ Ӎiҫɧϵɑɭ Gɍϵϵɳϵ

(( ))

John listened to the tale of the bracelet. He shook his head and sighed. Why do all types of stories seem to have no so happy endings? It is annoying me! When Tao mentioned possibly suffering the same fate, a small part of John felt angry and upset at the idea. He gripped Tao's hand and shook his head at him. "I won't let that happen to you. I would hate...for that to happen to you." When John realized the strangess of his action and how stupid he looked, he blushed red. However, he didn't let go of Tao's hand. "S-sorry. I don't know what came over me. I'm sure you wouldn't let that happen to yourself." John smiled, trying to forget his strange moment.

When Tao metioned someone already doing that for him, he tilted his head. "And who would that....Wait..." His eyes went wide as he realized who. "Of course! It's that Martin guy isn't it? I remember that in the catacombs, he was trying to get all over her at one point!" Everything started making sense to him now, and anger went through his veins. "And he's the one that caused you those injuries isn't he? Because you absorbed his energy?" John looked down, his grip on Tao's hand tightented as he tried to get rid of his negative emotion. However, it didn't want to go away.

John chuckled loudly, his chuckle false as his free hand went to cover his face. "God damn...am I always going to be used?" He gritted his teeth slightly as his free hand cletched into a fist. The one thing that got him automacially angry was him being used. His free hand, out of anger, went quickly towards the wall at full force. But at the last minute, John's emotional control took over and he stopped the hand an inch away from the wall. He took a few deep breaths as he put his free hand back towards him. "I'm sorry...I should be in better control of myself." A frown appeared on his face, disappointment flooding through his veins.

However, it was temporaily forgotten when Tao mentioned the idea of saying he was gay. John couldn't help but laugh loudly and grinned. "That is a possibility. I almost don't trust this God to even keep the marriages the way they are. He is a fickle mind. I've experienced it for myself." John wasn't sure Tao wanted to hear how he used to be engaged to a princess from Wraith. Admittedly, he felt lucky to have Dorian over her. But still...it hurts to be in this kind of situation.

"But, I'm not sure I can lie about my sexuality. I do like girls, but I..." John blushed slightly, almost not wanting to admit it. "I have wondered about guys before. Still do. However, I always feel bad at the idea of using someone to figure that out. I would whether find out in a less...using manner."

He noticed Tao had come closer to him. His eyes noticed Tao's head was now on his chest and his other hand was on his lap. A small smile appeared as this as he leaned his head against Tao's. His free hand played with Tao's hair slightly as he looked at the wall. "You sure? I can be quite boring at times with my talking." He grinned and then smiled.