"really? You Already Look Pretty Good-- I Mean Strong," He Commented, Glad His Back Was To The Other

"really? you already look pretty good-- i mean strong," he commented, glad his back was to the other now as he blushed at his flub. "yeah... good and strong..." he wasn't sure if the other had flexed on purpose, or if he was simply moving, but the fairy knew that whatever it was he was bound to get distracted. the last thing he needed to do while getting the man to help him was completely freeze on the stairs or worse, make them go too far, all because he was staring. if anyone asked, though, he turned around so it would be easier for him to lead.

"wait, do you really? now i feel like a bit of an ass, i can't believe i haven't noticed you there before. i definitely would have noticed you." in the fairy's defense he hadn't been fully himself in a long time now and rather than spending most of his nights out on the town, like he used too, he was hiding away in his apartment. hell. that's why he got this loveseat. he wanted something comfortable that he could lounge on while reading. "i've never thought about it but i probably wouldn't spend my nights off at work either... you could always catch a movie at the theater or, if the sharks and other mer's aren't feeling territorial, you could always go for a swim at the lake." he offered as he turned back to look over his shoulder at tristan, as best he could, with a smile. "guess i'm lucky you really didn't have anything to do."

"yeah, sorry. my name is cornelius but most people just call me cj. the full thing is too formal." he mused. "it's nice to meet you tristan."

making it onto the third floors landing, he was stubborn and didn't want to set the loveseat down but was clearly struggling to get the door to the hallway open with his elbow. after trying for a minute longer than he probably should have, while almost all of the loveseats weight was sitting on tristan's chest, he finally gave up and used a bit of his magic to just... open the door. something he could have potentially down to get the couch up here in the first place. "okay. this should be the easy part." with a renewed sense of confidence, he lead them through the doorway and began the long walk down to the other end of the building; down to where his apartment was waiting for them.

"Seriously, it's fine. I don't mind going up a few flights of stairs. I'm stronger than I look," he reassured the other with a wink. He noticed Cornelius look at his arms, and he may have flexed them just a little bit. Just the smallest, teensiest bit. Tristan didn't often show off, but if someone was going to look so obviously, who was he to deny him an even better view? Smiling cheekily, Tristan continued to follow along up the stairs, maneuvering the loveseat as needed.

He didn't struggle with the weight of the seat, just made sure he wasn't pushing Cornelius up the stairs at all as they made their way upwards. "Yeah, I work at one of 'em. I got tonight off, though. No big plans or anything," he explained, thinking about work for only a few seconds before shaking it out of his head. He never really knew what to do with his nights off, hence the evening walk he'd been on prior to helping Cornelius with his loveseat. "You got a name?" He asked after a moment, staring at the back of the other's head. "Mine's Tristan."

christopher would have smacked alton in the back of the head if he could see the elf now. all that time the two of them had spent together, all the time that human had spent pulling him out of his shell and getting him comfortable in this world, had clearly gone to waste because the elf seemed to be worse now than he was when he first made the move. he held no curiosity, no interest or joy in life, he-- he was cold; and distant. he was speaking to people only if he had too, and in short bursts of sentences that hardly answered the questions he was being asked.

he didn't want to be like this but-- but he couldn't help it. he spent so much of his life with christopher, learning how to see the beauty of this world through his human's eyes, only for the man to be taken from him in the end; only for him to wind up alone.

now he was stuck in an uncomfortable place between not wanting to let anyone in again and not wanting to be alone.

"i noticed." he mumbled, almost sarcastically, as the other mentioned the peace out here. that was why he was there, after all. he desperately needed peace. "right. damien." he said again to commit the name to memory. "i will make sure i find him and explain myself so that he doesn't wind up calling you out here himself." he mumbled.

digging his heels into the dirt a bit, he tucked his hands into his pockets and took a deep breath. he might as well open up a bit. he didn't have to give the man his life story, and it's not like they were signing some pact of friendship-- he was simply clearing the air and making sense of why he was there. he, really, had nothing to lose.

"no." he commented plainly, half tempted to leave his answer there only to go on and explain himself. "i'm not a traveler, not in that sense. i'm just new to new haven, but i've been in this world for a while. i let my curiosity get the best of me and i left the fae realm some time ago. i-- i had settled in and started a life for myself with a human, one that knew what i was, and was content to stay there for the rest of my time... but for personal reason's i'm now here."

truth  be  told,  there  was  no  such  thing  as  yours  &  mine  when  it  came  to  property  in  town,  but  the  horses  &  other  animals  -  live  stock  or  not,  were  ..  well,  they  belonged  to  the  ranch  &  not  everybody  was  trusted  to  be  around  them.  some  were  less  in  control  of  their  beastly  side  than  others  -  if  they  had  a  beastly  side,  of  course.  damien  was  most  likely  busy  at  the  stables  or  on  a  run  -  it  wasn't  like  he  sat  watching  the  animals  all  day,  but  he  did  like  knowing  who  came  by  &  who  spent  more  time  here  than  was  normal.

"he's  not,  you're  right.  but  he'll  find  you  eventually."  little  shrug.  "and  no,  i'm  not  here  as  a  cop.  i'm  here  ....as  me.  everything's  been  crazy,  out  here's  peace."  he  needed  the  quiet,  away  from  everybody  &  everything.  he  could  swear  the  horses  liked  his  presence,  too,  so  that  helped.  "if  you  plan  to  hang  around  more...  just  let'm  know.  he'll  be  at  the  stables  most  likely.  him  or  dirk.  you're  one  of  the  travelers?"  ryan  met  most  of  them  upon  arrival,  but  ..not  all  of  them.  especially  when  he  was  out  on  a  rescue  mission  or  something. 

TARON EGERTON 2023 | Behind The Scenes of ICON Magazine Issue #80 Photoshoot

"it has a decent taste, the burn is nice at least." he agreed with a smirk and a loose nod of his head. "i am relaxed. what, just because i keep making quips doesn't mean i'm uncomfortable." though it usually did. "maybe i just find you easy to talk to and joke with." elgin did but he was also, clearly, stalling and buying himself some time. all jokes and context aside, it wasn't every day he let someone put a blade to his throat.

"you and you're flattery, anders. what am i going to do with you?" he laughed softly as he finally made his way over to sit down and settle into his seat. "i trust you," he admitted, a bit under his breath, as he looked over at anders as he prepared a lather. "i wouldn't be here if i didn't-- though, if you make me look like an arse, i'm going to haunt you for the rest of your life." he threatened, playfully, before letting out a heavy breath as he relaxed.

"The man I got it from also thought it was very funny. I think it tastes delightful." Anders smiled and pointed o the chair. "Sit, relax." Anders got the brush and bowl, starting to mix a thick white leather up. "You know I would never say you are anything but ravishing Elgin. I just want to show you how skilled I am."

"i probably should have led with that. sorry." the smile he offered as he spoke was apologetic and genuine. the whole reason he was in this pickle was the fact he didn't want to be a burden on people. he, clearly, got lost somewhere in the execution because he was actively being a burden but at least the other seemed to be a good sport about the whole thing; and strong. very strong. there was a brief flicker of distraction, his blue eyes cutting down to look at the other's arms, but he was quick to regain composure as the loveseat shifted in his grip.

leading them into the building, once they were past the hassle of the front door, they were at least already in the stairwell so he slowly turned around-- while holding onto the couch-- so that his back was now to the man helping him.

"i appreciate the gesture but i find it incredibly hard to believe that you have nothing better to do tonight. we aren't a big city, sure, but new haven still has plenty to offer for it's night life. we have... one bar. two tops?" he joked, talking over his shoulder as he did his best to lead them up the stairs without pulling the other behind him; he was carrying the brunt of the loveseat's weight now that it was tilted.

Tristan lifted his end of the loveseat, and slowly worked his way forwards. He was careful to wait for Cornelius to move first, following behind and doing his best to carry more weight so the other could focus more on direction. The vampire was grateful now that he was pretty dedicated to working out regularly; the furniture wasn't that heavy, but it was heavy enough that three floors and a hallway would be a pretty big feat. He just laughed though when the other told him where his apartment was. "Yeah, that's all?" He teased, raising a brow. He didn't back off though, more than willing to get the loveseat all the way there.

"Don't worry about it, man. I didn't have anything better to do," he reassured him, shrugging his shoulders as best he could while still carrying the bulky item. Tristan was usually willing to help someone out.

JACK O'CONNELL as Oliver Mellors 2022 • Lady Chatterley’s Lover • dir. Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre