[For Bobby] Paris, je t'aime.
Dec. 24th, 2015 08:26 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
They had left London from St Pancras on the Eurostar early on the Thursday morning, one suitcase between them and just a couple of bits of hand luggage: this was a short getaway, John had said, not an exchange program. Bobby had made a list, of course, and John had groaned and kissed him anyway.
He'd made sure to get decent seats on the Eurostar too - standard premiere class so they had enough leg room and space and food that wasn't crap - although he'd spent most of his time with his nose in one of his texts, a hand absently stroking along Bobby's forearm as it rested on the seat arm between them.
Disembarking in Paris had been a bustle, with Bobby trying to remember his high school French and John popping open the phrase book and pointing to maps on his phone. Fortunately they arrived at the boutique hotel a little way off Avenue Victor Hugo without much more fuss, and John had promptly dived onto the bed for respite after they'd checked in. It was a nice room, all wood paneling and space and kind of grand, the kind of thing John had picked out (and Bobby had said 'Fine, that looks good' to), but he hadn't been allowed to flop down for too long before unpacking, and then hitting the pavement, mostly to gawk.
Paris was Paris. It wasn't New York, or San Francisco, or London or any of the places John had been to in the UK (which consisted entirely of Brighton, Oxford, Leeds and Hull); it had a air and atmosphere of its own, with seemingly insane traffic, vaguely amused Parisians, other gawking tourists (so they fit right in); the Metro, the sidewalk cafes, the history, the sense that everyone local was somehow better dressed - John's hand found Bobby's and he held it as they browsed maps and tourist guides and took photos and wandered around. For his nerves (and he had been nervous the last little while, all too conscious of the rings he had back in a suitcase in the hotel), he was gonna hold that hand and be proud and let everyone see it, fuck 'em if they had an issue.
That day was Midnight Mass (Bobby's idea), and John who'd been raised in faith and torn it down like everything else he used to believe in was moved by the sanctity of it, the sense of community. Respect must be paid. And Christmas morning they had lingered long in bed before John had reminded Bobby to get his ass in gear, promising that his present would come later. There was after all, an Eiffel Tower to visit, an ice rink to skate on, and a proposal to propose.
He'd made sure to get decent seats on the Eurostar too - standard premiere class so they had enough leg room and space and food that wasn't crap - although he'd spent most of his time with his nose in one of his texts, a hand absently stroking along Bobby's forearm as it rested on the seat arm between them.
Disembarking in Paris had been a bustle, with Bobby trying to remember his high school French and John popping open the phrase book and pointing to maps on his phone. Fortunately they arrived at the boutique hotel a little way off Avenue Victor Hugo without much more fuss, and John had promptly dived onto the bed for respite after they'd checked in. It was a nice room, all wood paneling and space and kind of grand, the kind of thing John had picked out (and Bobby had said 'Fine, that looks good' to), but he hadn't been allowed to flop down for too long before unpacking, and then hitting the pavement, mostly to gawk.
Paris was Paris. It wasn't New York, or San Francisco, or London or any of the places John had been to in the UK (which consisted entirely of Brighton, Oxford, Leeds and Hull); it had a air and atmosphere of its own, with seemingly insane traffic, vaguely amused Parisians, other gawking tourists (so they fit right in); the Metro, the sidewalk cafes, the history, the sense that everyone local was somehow better dressed - John's hand found Bobby's and he held it as they browsed maps and tourist guides and took photos and wandered around. For his nerves (and he had been nervous the last little while, all too conscious of the rings he had back in a suitcase in the hotel), he was gonna hold that hand and be proud and let everyone see it, fuck 'em if they had an issue.
That day was Midnight Mass (Bobby's idea), and John who'd been raised in faith and torn it down like everything else he used to believe in was moved by the sanctity of it, the sense of community. Respect must be paid. And Christmas morning they had lingered long in bed before John had reminded Bobby to get his ass in gear, promising that his present would come later. There was after all, an Eiffel Tower to visit, an ice rink to skate on, and a proposal to propose.
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Date: 2015-12-31 01:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-31 04:03 am (UTC)"Tonight," John continued conversationally, picking out winter clothes that wouldn't make him look like a cranky elf, "you want to do anything special?" John had just planned to wander until they found anywhere that was open for dinner, but even though the trip was John's idea Bobby had probably made lists. "I was thinking dinner, then ravaging you several times over, but I can always do that back home."
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Date: 2015-12-31 07:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-31 08:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-31 08:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-31 08:56 am (UTC)They got ready quickly, despite some very clear longing in John's gaze to delay things perhaps with a long, shared, shower - John had insisted on showering separately as a result because he didn't trust himself, and still slapped Bobby's ass gently as they dressed, because he couldn't help himself, and then John basically fumbled his way out onto the streets of Paris, with phone, wallet, passport and boyfriend all safely in hand.
Photos were taken - selfies, and the architecture itself, and John insisted on a lot with Bobby in them 'because you're the most gorgeous thing in the frame, sweetheart' - and John at least logged in on Facebook everywhere, mostly just to see how his family reacted. They walked down the Champs-Elysses, sight-seeing at the Grand Palais and the Place de la Concorde, caught the Metro to see Notre Dame and back to the Arc de Triomphe. They stomped, wandered, giggled and gawped their way around most of the major gardens and landmarks - anything that you didn't need to go inside to appreciate basically - before ending up at the Eiffel as the sun started to set.
John got his breath back in the first floor cafe with a coffee and a croissant and a battered paperback, able to cast his eye over Bobby on the nearby ice rink. Two rings lay nestled in a jacket pocket: he'd take Bobby up to the top floor in the lift and propose there. At least, that was the plan.
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Date: 2015-12-31 09:10 am (UTC)And it really was something to experience, ice skating on a rink that was not only 200 feet off the ground, but was actually contained within the famous tower. It was exhilarating, and he made himself leave the ice before he was really ready, because he didn't want John to get bored.
"Okay, that was awesome," he declared as he took the seat across from John after returning his skates, his face flushed and happy. "The rink is small, but totally worth it."
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Date: 2015-12-31 09:20 am (UTC)"...But I guess we could come back next week," John remarked, after a moment or two to reflect. Advantages of living in London. "Or maybe next month we could do the rest of France..."
Finishing off his coffee with a gulp, John tucked the book into a backpack and hefted it on his shoulder. "You ready to go up top?" He didn't think his sensitivity to motion would be triggered by heights, exactly, but, he was still a little apprehensive on top of all the other reasons to be apprehensive.
"If I barf in the lift, you can tell people you don't know me," he teased, leading the way.
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Date: 2015-12-31 09:28 am (UTC)"Sure, let's do it." He was excited for the view, but less so for the lift ride up, after that comment. "I just might," he murmured with a grin, following him to the line for the lift and slipping an arm around his waist. "Although they may find it a little hard to believe after watching me kiss you," he added, doing that very thing. It was a quick kiss, but not exactly what most would consider 'chaste.'
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Date: 2015-12-31 09:40 am (UTC)Snorting a little as they found their place in the assorteds that stuffed themselves into the lift, John comfortably leaning into Bobby's arm. "You don't know, they might think I'm very attractive to strangers," he teased, murmuring low and fond in Bobby's ear. The lift doors closed shut, and John's stomach gave a little anticipatory jump, which just caused him to curl closer against Bobby as if that man and that warmth and that comfort could stop his motion sickness.
But after that one moment of anxiety, nothing else happened. A few people sniffed a little at the rather obvious young couple, the lift went up smoothly, and got to the top in around eight minutes.
"Hey, you want to grab some champagne first, or take a look?" John nodded to the view - they had timed it just right, to see Paris bathed in the last rays of the winter sun, on Christmas Day.
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Date: 2016-01-06 06:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-01-06 08:54 am (UTC)"...This looks amazing," John murmured. "Doesn't it?" He moved his hand to gently ruffle Bobby's hair.
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Date: 2016-01-08 10:08 am (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2016-01-09 08:44 am (UTC)They stopped and grabbed a bite to eat before returning to their room, where Bobby flopped back on the bed that had been made while they were out, holding his hand up above his head so he could admire his new ring. "Did you have these custom made?" he asked, toeing his shoes off without sitting back up.
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Date: 2016-01-09 08:59 am (UTC)He moved up the covers on hands and knees to flop down next to Bobby, one arm curling around the other man to tug him in close. "I think tonight I should at least show you how your fiancé fucks," he murmured, clearly both very happy and rather aroused, lips already close enough to Bobby's ear to brush against him.
Which was when John's cell went off, and he rolled over with a curse to grab his phone and put it to his ear. "Oh, hi Katie! Yeah, Happy Christmas. Don't tell me - Mom is right next to you." Hearing the affirmation from his sister, John rolled his eyes. "You can tell her I'm not actually scared of my own mom. She doesn't have to talk through you." Some more chatter from the other end. "Yeah, yeah, sounds like you all had a great family Christmas and I will check all those photos on Facebook. Now, I just proposed to my boyfriend this evening, so if you don't mind-" There was some delighted squealing from Katie, at which point John pulled the phone from his ear and made a face at Bobby - it was still clearly audible.
And then there was a new voice, older, but still feminine, and unused to being dismissed. "Sinjin? I've just heard your news."
Fuck, John mouthed. Maybe he was a bit scared after all. "...Hi Mom," he said, and managed a tight, nervous smile at Bobby as he placed the cell gingerly back against his ear, like it might bite. He scooted down the bed a little, sliding to sit over the side of the bed, back turned to Bobby. It wasn't so much privacy as a wish to avoid embarrassment in front of his loved.
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Date: 2016-01-09 09:10 am (UTC)"Mmm..." his breath hitched at the light brush of lips, and his hand moved between them--and was arrested by John's ringtone. He let his hand drop to the bed with a frustrated sigh as John rolled away to grab his phone, but it made sense that they would hear from their families. It was Christmas, after all.
He folded his arms behind his head and watched John while he talked to his sister, grinning at the excited shrieks that were shared with him in order to preserve his fiancé's eardrums.
And then John's mom came on the line, and John moved away. Bobby made a face at his back as he watched and listened, a little nervous himself about what would come next.
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Date: 2016-01-09 09:39 am (UTC)"Hey, how are you-" Okay, that gambit didn't work. "No, Mom, you don't need to apologise, Katie didn't disturb-" And that didn't either. "Thanks for sharing how you spent the evening after Dad proposed, that was....kind of you." Oh, with the oversharing. He'd definitely got it from his mom. "But yeah, I am engaged now. Yes, to Bobby." He turned around a bit and rolled his eyes at the person they were currently talking about. "Yes, this was probably a long time coming. Yes, I know exactly what you think about it." John's voice got a little more steely as his mom tried to impart her usual wisdom about first loves. "But I'm still - what, you want to talk to him?"
John held the phone to his chest and mimed 'Do you mind?' to Bobby, a bit bewildered himself by the idea his mom wanted to talk to his new fiancé.
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Date: 2016-01-09 09:58 am (UTC)He looked at John wide-eyed, his mouth working a few times before he sat up and gave a helpless little shrug before holding his hand out for the phone. He held it up to his ear as if it was perhaps a bomb and managed a nervous, "...Hello?"
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Date: 2016-01-09 10:08 am (UTC)She allowed that to sink in for a few moments, then continued. "So, you're in Paris, aren't you? That sounds very romantic."
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Date: 2016-01-09 10:14 am (UTC)"Yes, it's a beautiful city, Mrs. Allerdyce. Very romantic," he agreed, shifting to 'dinner party' manners automatically, all formal, polite, respectful. "I...hope you've had a good Christmas so far."
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Date: 2016-01-09 11:13 am (UTC)"Oh, it's been fine, although not nearly as eventful as yours. Still, it's nice you appreciate all the effort Sinjin went to. When you get older, you find romance loses some of its appeal." In other words, boys, you're being adorably immature.
"And you're studying as well, from what I've been told? Accounting? Sinjin's father always had a wonderful mind for figures - he was a bank manager - but my son never took after him that way. I can remember Sinjin writing home about you, and the fact you could actually use numbers. We're all very grateful you've always looked out for him, Bobby, very thankful."
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Date: 2016-01-09 11:36 am (UTC)"Oh, yes, he did a great job planning it. I was completely surprised," he said, although he could think of no good response to her other comment about romance.
"Yes, ma'am, accounting." And the last sentence had him glancing at John again and shifting uncomfortably in his space on the bed. "Oh...of course. I've always cared for your son, from the moment I met him." He wondered what she would think if she knew the reason he'd ended up in prison was because of the decision he'd made. Of course, he was also the reason John had been alive to serve his sentence.
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Date: 2016-01-09 12:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-01-09 12:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-01-09 12:19 pm (UTC)"Yeah, thanks mom. Maybe Katie can talk to him another night? We've just had a really long day." Hearing the response he got, John replied with a deadpan: "Yes, mom, I would like to have sex with my fiancé. Night." He'd never felt so satisfied to end a damn call in his life, almost jabbing at his cell with his thumb.
Flopping down next to Bobby, he shifted closer, one hand under his head, the other snaking down to entwine fingers with Bobby's. "...So that's my mom. You know, it sounded like she was in a good mood."
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