Looking up newer old friends

[palace-craig.livejournal.com]

Craig stared around his room. It was quiet. Too quiet. He picked up a book, than set it down again. "Fuck." He grabbed his com. "Michael, meet me at the lifts." He winced as he realized he couldn't wander the halls quite the same as he used, but the memo had been dutifully sent to him about the shadows. Maybe if he had somewhere to go in mind. He turned over the places he could go as he went down the lift, than smiled. Why not visit Karl and Viggo like he had said he would? Looking up, he realized he was nearer to Viggo's floor than Karl's. With any luck Viggo would be home and they could go pick up Karl and get something to eat maybe. Smiling, he got off the lift and walked to his room. He knocked on the door, his smile growing wider.

"I'll get the door, love." Karl put down his book and stretched as he got out of his chair. He frowned as he realized he couldn't remember anything he had read. "So much for trying to lose myself in a book." Shaking his head, he opened the door, his mouth falling open. "CRAIG!"

"KARL?! What the hell are you doing here? Where's Viggo?"

"What do you mean, 'Craig', Karl- he's been gone for- Oh my god- Craig!" Viggo followed Karl to the door, grinning as he saw Craig standing in the door. "You're here- since when are you here? Come in, please!" he offered after a moment, moving farther into the suite to give everyone room to enter.

Craig almost stumbled inside, staring at the two of them. It took a moment for him to get his thoughts in order enough to talk. "Karl, how did you? When did you?" He shook his head. "Okay, I'm going to need a minute for this."

Karl suddenly smiled and threw himself at Craig. "Craig! You're really back. Gods, how long you staying? When did you get back? I can't believe you're here. How'd you know where Viggo's room was? Oh gods don't tell me you went to my old room and didn't find me there?"

Viggo hung back, a huge smile on his face at seeing Karl so happy. "You did know Karl and I moved in together, didn't you? He's been up here since, oh, a few months ago now."

"You did? No, I didn't know that. When was this? Karl, you're already a Five?"

"No, not really." Karl led Craig to a chair. "I'm only a Six still." He thought for a minute. "You didn't know about us? But I thought...oh, no. I think we did it right after your wedding. So you wouldn't have known." He reached for Viggo's hand. "Harry arranged it. Said they needed a Lower room, would be helping them out if I moved in with Viggo. So here I am."

"Well, we'd already decided we wanted to live together, it was more a question of where, and that's when Harry set up Karl coming upstairs instead of me coming down," Viggo clarified, holding Karl's hand tighter.

Craig couldn't stop smiling. "I can't believe it. I'm so happy for you too. I was just telling Harry how much you two belonged together. But even I didn't realize...Congratulations." He half stood up and hugged them both. "So what else is new with you both? Are you on the books yet?"

Karl blushed. "Um not really. We're almost there. Just....these special classes we have to do." His hand gripped Viggo's tightly for a second as he muttered under his breath, glancing away before looking back at Craig.

"Special classes? You just lost me. I never heard of us having 'special classes'." Craig looked from Karl to Viggo.

"Talent training. Neither of us ended up with a Votary, and we weren't ready to go on the books. So we've both got individual tutors who are working with us so that we can manage our Talent's better, and fairly soon, we'll be testing and work ready." Viggo explained, running his thumb softly against the back of Karl's hand.

Craig nodded his head. "Yeah, Sensualism can be a tricky Talent to get a handle on. You should have gotten help for that when you first got here. Sorry about that, Viggo. But I'm glad you're getting it now. Who did they give you for Tutor?" He stopped. "Wait. Our Talents?"

Karl frowned. "Yeah, our Talents. Craig what-" His eyes grew wide. "You don't know. How can't you know? Viggo, we had to have told him, right?"

"Of course, we..." Viggo stopped, his expression mirroring Karl's. "Maybe not- you were awfully busy around then, and there was a period we just didn't talk much. You didn't know that Karl had an undetected Talent?" Viggo looked at Craig for confirmation.

"Undetected Talent? How...that's not supposed to happen. It shouldn't ever happen." Craig sat back in the chair. "Karl, I'm so sorry. How did you find out?"

"Its okay, Craig. Happened long before I got here." Karl took a breath. "Turns out the guy who gave me my Test was a crock. He didn't know shit. Fucking up a bunch of other Tests, including at least one other person at Palace. I'm a Receptive, Craig. %. They ah...they figured that that's why I passed out. Cause I was getting the other person's emotions on top of my own." He looked down. "Why I passed out on you that first time. Marton's being helping Viggo and he sent me to Will to get helped."

For a split second Craig almost blurted out about his Father and Will, but he bit his tongue. "Karl. I don't know what to say. I can't imagine what it must have been like, finding this out after all this time. But I'm glad you're getting the help now. Both you and Viggo."

Viggo smiled at Craig. "Thank you. We're getting there- not as fast as either of us would like, but we are getting there. Marton says I'm getting pretty close, so hopefully we'll be able to put this whole tutoring thing behind us and actually move on soon. At least we'll be finished with classes then- don't know how much more of that I can stand."

"Will," Karl snorted "he's says I'm doing fine. That going faster than most would. Whatever." He shrugged. "But soon I'm hoping."

Craig looked at Karl, than at Viggo, the question in his eyes.

Viggo shook his head almost imperceptibly, everything in his expression begging Craig to let it go. "He is doing well- really well. The problem is our Talents happen to really knock heads- with anyone else it won't be so bad, but when it's us together, we really need to be conscious of them. On the books won't be nearly as complicated."

"Yeah, I could see that. Be some kind of weird feedback thing. Well, I'm sure both of you will be done soon. I'll throw you the party when you go on the books. But how bout for now, I take you guys out to eat. Or for drinks?"

Karl smiled. "I could go for that. Vig?

"Either sounds perfect. I'm just glad you're back- we've missed you, Craig."
"It's something being back." Craig's hand strayed to where his ring wasn't anymore. "Things are different around here. More than I expected them." He stood up. "Tell you what. You get ready; I'll be waiting out in the hall. Oh, just so you don't get surprised, Michael will be with us. He's my bodyguard. I don't think you've met him. New thing, he's got to be with me everywhere now. He's okay, knows how to fade into the background."

"Oh, sure. We'll be right out. Glad you're back, Craig. Be there in a second." Karl let Craig out, his smile wide as he came back to Viggo. "Can't believe he's here. We have to buy him one round, at least. If it weren't for him..." He wrapped his arms around his love, nuzzling his neck.

"I know- we owe him so much," Viggo agreed, hugging him back tightly. "You realize we've totally monopolized the conversation, right? We haven't even asked him what he's doing back yet." he laughed softly, giving Karl a kiss and pulling away to look for a change of clothes.

"I know. I didn't think he would come back so soon. But gods it does seem like forever since the wedding. And we never really got the chance to say congratulations, they left so fast." Karl slipped out of his pants and went to his dresser.

Viggo leaned against the wall and growled under his breath, watching Karl cross the room.

Karl looked over his shoulder at his love. "Yes? Something I can help you with?" He batted his eyes at him.

"Don't tease- there's a prince in the hallway," Viggo sighed. "Just enjoying the view is all."
Karl frowned as he quickly got dressed, than went to Viggo. "Soon love. So soon." He put his head on Viggo's shoulder, arms around him.

Hugging him back, Viggo leaned in and kissed Karl against the temple. "I bet we could figure something out to do when we get home tonight... unless you'd be seriously opposed to the idea..." he purred.

"I'm sure I could be persuaded." Karl drew back to look at him. "You do have a certain rugged charm about you."

"Rugged charm, huh? I think that's a decent start. Now c'mon- let's not leave Craig waiting out in the hall any longer then we have to," he sighed, leaning in for one more kiss.

Karl kept him in the kiss for as long as he could, before sighing again and stepping away. Taking his hand, he smiled as they walked to the door.

Viggo opened the door and smiled at Craig and Michael. "Sorry that took so long, but we're ready. Where did you want to go?"

"Pub, cafe, think the dining room might be opened." Craig smiled back. "Up to you."

"Pub sounds good. And we want to buy one round. Least we could do for you, Craig."

"Especially since we didn't even get to lift a glass with you after your wedding- you can let us have one round, can't you?" Viggo teased, grinning.

"Yeah, only fair. Thanks." Craig's smile dimmed just a little, than came back. "Tell you what, first round I'll get, than you can get the second."

"Deal." Karl put his arm around Viggo's waist, leaning against him. "We ready to go?"

"Uh huh." Viggo closed the door behind them, puzzling for a moment on the expression on Craig's face, and then letting it go. "So, Karl- what are the chances you're getting something that constitutes a part of the vegetable food group?" he teased as they headed off down the hall.

"Um...near to none?" Karl smiled, batting his eyes.

Craig laughed. "You sound Harry and Orli. Spent the night with them and had to sit thru Orli trying to shove broccoli down Harry's throat."

Viggo sighed. "What on earth did you two eat the whole time you were together?" he said, his voice mildly exasperated.

"Meat. What every growing boy needs and loves." Karl laughed.

"I can't believe you both don't have scurvy." Viggo grumbled good naturedly, shaking his head.

"Maybe you and Orli should get together, Viggo. Gang up on them. Exchange some recipes and such?" Craig laughed.

"Um, no. Don't think we need that." Karl stuck his tongue out at Craig.

"Recipes are useless when combined with sheer stubbornness," Viggo explained. "Guilt and sexual favors sometimes work well though as bribery."

"Yeah, that's what it took with Harry too. Just seems like a rough up hill climb to be doing alone."

"Hey, that's not nice." Karl stuck his tongue out at Viggo.

"Maybe not, but are you denying that it's true?" Viggo challenged, tickling Karl a little in the ribs, then moving ahead to open the door to the pub.

"Not saying any more." Karl pouted as he entered the pub. Picking out a booth toward the back, he slid into it. "So I'm thinking a medium rare hamburger sounds good."

"Medium well."

"I thought you weren't getting a burger?"

"No- you should get yours medium well... medium rare is too rare- you might get sick. I'm getting a clubhouse."

"No it's not. And I've had it before here. They know how to cook it right." Karl looked up at the server. "Hamburger. Medium rare. Hold the onions. And a beer."

"I'll have the roast beef sandwich. Fries. And beer as well." Craig hid his smile at the look on Viggo's face.

"Oh yeah, fries for me too."

Viggo shook his head. "You're hopeless. Clubhouse, salad on the side. And a beer, same as them."

"Not hopeless. Just have good taste."

"That's debatable. But I love you anyway."

"Love you too." Karl leaned over and kissed Viggo. He blushed as he looked at Craig. "Sorry about that."

"No, it's okay. You're in love, it's allowed."

Viggo's blush matched Karl's, and he looked for a change in subject. "So how long are you back for- you left so suddenly, and the word was you'd moved away?"

"Not sure. And yeah, did leave quick. I moved out to the country. But I'm back now."

"Out to the country?" Viggo said with a faint twinge of envy. "Wow. Must have been hard to come back from that."

Karl frowned slightly, reaching for Viggo's hand.

"Not really. Turns out I'm not much of a country person." Small laugh. "Just born to be in the city I guess."

"Well, I guess it's about what you're used to. How about David- is he finding it a hard adjustment?" Viggo squeezed Karl's hand, careful not to look at him, then dropping his hand as the server arrived with their food.

Craig waited til the server was gone. "He's fine. That's more his life than mine, really. Fixing the whole place up. So, Viggo? Know Karl's a Six. You must be at least a Five to be on Uppers. "

Viggo blinked for a moment at the change in topic, but recovered quickly. "Uh- I think that was Harry again. They had more room in Upper then in Lower, so he set it up that Karl could come upstairs and we could live there instead of both going to Lower."

"And he set my bracelets to go everywhere Viggo can." Karl smiled.

and occasionally a few places I can't, but that's beside the point. Viggo thought, nodding and smiling in response to Karl's statement. "So now we're both up there, and soon enough, Karl will level up to Five and it won't be special treatment anymore." He smiled proudly.

"Soon as can get tested. Have to wait for Him to say." Karl made a face as he started eating his burger.

"I'm sure it will be soon." Craig smiled, looking again at Viggo. 'Tell me soon?' he mouthed to him when he was sure Karl wasn't looking.

Viggo smiled, his eyes flickering in response to Craig's mouthed request. "I'm not even sure who will be testing us, but I'm sure we'll find out soon enough." he said as he finished off his first beer. "Now, I'm pretty sure that the next round is on us, isn't it?"

"Yup. And over it you two can tell me what else is new with you." Craig signaled for the server, settling in for a good listen.

Comments

Comment

[angie-palace.livejournal.com]

Yikes. More nasty stuff on the ground here than in a cow pasture. :/ I hope everyone gets straightened out soon. Karl and Will only have to put up with each other for a short time longer, so that's good. Poor Craig, though.... [sigh] At least he's reaching out and connecting with people again, though, instead of just hanging out in his room staring at the walls. That's good. [hopeful smile]

Angie

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[darknightjess.livejournal.com]

Glad Craig is getting out and meeting up with old friends.. is good to see him back.