Regulus Black (mummys_boy) wrote in snark_n_bark, @ 2008-08-18 19:10:00 |
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Entry tags: | complete, gaius, regulus |
Egypt! from whose all dateless tombs arose
Characters: Gaius, Regulus
Summary: Regulus accompanies Gaius to Egypt on business, but it doesn't quite feel like home anymore.
The strongest summer sun in either London or Berlin was nothing compared to the searing orb that shown down on the city of Cairo, and Gaius shielded his eyes with his hand as he looked about the bustling streets, trying to get his bearings as he followed along in Regulus' wake. He'd not come to the city when he'd come to Egypt only a short time before in search of a very special companion for Regulus, having instead gone further south in the country, into the ancient hills where the Temple of Bast was located. He wouldn't have paid much attention even if he had been here, so focused had he been on his mission, but he was able to enjoy it now, even more so since Regulus was with him.
They were in the Wizarding Quarter, that much he knew, but even if Regulus hadn't told him beforehand of their eventual destination, he would have recognized the signs of magical activity around him. Unlike in the Muggle quarter, here the carpets didn't lie still upon their racks, but quivered and hovered almost like large, ungainly insects eager to escape a trap. Likewise the haggling often included gestures with wands or the occasional flash of magic as goods and money exchanged hands. It was an interesting combination of the strange and the familiar, and Gaius remembered parts of it from his previous visit here with Regulus, even though that now seemed a lifetime ago.
A large, elegant looking stone edifice was suddenly visible between the gaily colored awnings of the merchants, and Gaius followed Regulus closely, eager to be out of the sun and parched for something to drink. They stepped into the foyer, and he gave a sigh of relief at the respite from the glare.
"I can't believe I forgot to bring sunglasses," he said, shaking his head and giving Regulus a rueful smile. "You would think by my third time here, I would have learned. At least I remembered the sun lotion, though, so I think I'll call it a win."
"Good," Regulus said dryly. "I would dislike having your brothers accuse me of trying to roast you alive. Sunglasses, however, we can find easily enough." He was momentarily distracted by hearing someone call out to him using his old alias, Onuris, and he turned to see the proprietor of the hotel approaching. He exchanged a few words with his old friend, then turned to make introductions. "Asar, this is Gaius Snape. We're here to introduce him to some of my business associates. Gaius, this is my old friend, Asar. He owns this hotel, and he will take very good care of you when you visit."
"Any friend of Onuris is a friend of mine," Asar said, smiling a warm welcome. "I have your rooms prepared. Both of them will offer an excellent view of the evening sun from the balcony."
Gaius smiled broadly at the man, shaking hands in a friendly manner. He wasn't surprised to hear Regulus referred to by the name the man used; on their previous visit, more than one person had used the same name for him, and secretly Gaius thought it suited Regulus, sounding mysterious and beautiful.
"Thank you very much. You have a lovely place here. I'm sure I'll be quite comfortable. My friend speaks very highly of you, and I shall be honored to stay here on my return to the city."
"Excellent! We will be happy to have you." Asar gestured toward the spiraling staircase. "Come, I will show you to your rooms. Leave your bags; someone will bring them up to you." He clapped his hands, and a young man came scurrying to levitate the luggage with a flick of his wand.
It only took a few minutes for Asar to take them upstairs and show off their rooms, which were light and spacious, each one with its own balcony; he handed over their individual keys, and the young man arrived shortly behind them with their luggage. Regulus tipped him generously and then began unpacking, leaving his door standing open in case Gaius wanted to pop in with any questions. It felt strange staying at a hotel, but he had given up his flat in Cairo at long last, severing that tie with reluctance; it had seemed the right thing to do at the time, although he regretted it a little now. He no longer had a secure bolt-hole, a touchstone he knew he could return to. He was another visitor now, no longer a resident, and that was disconcerting.
Gaius tipped the porter as well, then looked around his room with delight. It was more than acceptable, a delight to his hedonistic soul, and he couldn't help flopping on the thick duvet for moment, staring up at the ornate ceiling. He could hear Regulus moving around in his room next door, and Gaius rolled himself out of the bed, stepping out into the hallway and looking into Regulus' room. He knocked on the open door.
"Hey! Where's Sekhmet? Have you let her out yet? I was wondering how she liked being back home. Or close to it, at any rate."
Regulus glanced over his shoulder and shook his head. "Not yet. Her carrier is on the bed, if you want to let her out," he said, pointing to the spacious vented carrier with plush cushions on the bottom and sides. "Asar won't mind. He has cats of his own."
Gaius smiled, crossing to the bed and unlatching the door, then removing his hand so that Sekhmet could flow out of the carrier, stretching and yawning. He stroked the arch of her tawny back, then scratched behind her ears. "Lovely lady, it's good to see you again," he said, bending down to look into her eyes. "Have you been enjoying your time with Regulus? You certainly look none the worse for wear, but then you're a regal lady, right?"
Sekhmet mewed and purred, and Gaius continued to stroke her even as he turned his head to face Regulus, a light of curiosity in his eyes. "So, have you discovered all of her secrets yet?" he asked.
"I've discovered one, at least," Regulus replied, shaking the wrinkles out of a set of robes before hanging them up, the last item he needed to unpack. He closed his luggage and put it away, and then he turned to Gaius. "I found out she can talk."
"So I understand from the Priestesses, although she never spoke to me," Gaius said enviously. "I told you she was special, didn't I? A rare beauty, as you deserve."
"She spoke to me because she had my wand in her mouth, and she wanted to chastise me for not saying 'please'," Regulus replied. "We don't converse on a regular basis, however. It's too difficult for her, and it isn't really necessary. I will admit that you were right: she is special."
"Ah, taking you to task, was she? Clever girl, you keep him in line," Gaius said, then withdrew his hand as she swatted at him with a paw, claws fortunately sheathed. He laughed. "Well, she's protective of you, my friend! I shall have to watch out, or else I suspect she might not be so careful about those razors on the ends of her paws the next time."
Regulus smiled at Sekhmet, inordinately pleased at her show of protectiveness on his behalf, and he went to scoop her up and cuddle her, scratching her ears affectionately. "She knows her own mind, that's certain. The nice thing is, she can go with us tomorrow instead of staying cooped up in here." He glanced at Gaius questioningly. "I haven't arranged any meetings for today because I thought it might be easier to relax and adjust to the time change. We'll focus on business tomorrow. Today, we have no obligations if there is something you would like to do. Feel free to go exploring if you like."
Gaius felt a small pang of jealousy at the way Regulus cuddled Sekhmet, not because he begrudged her the attention or wanted to deny Regulus the contact, but because he did miss being Anubis, being the focus of Regulus' attention and affection. It was horribly selfish of him, and he dismissed the feeling as unworthy in the extreme. Hadn't he convinced her to come with him, and Regulus to accept her, just for this to happen? He was truly happy for them both, and being sad for himself was unworthy.
Smiling, he nodded at Regulus' plan. "Yes, I'd like to go shopping, I think, at least for presents for the children. I can also pay more attention to what kind of color schemes and decorations are common. It would be advantageous for use in your shop, as well as the things I'm planning for Alchemy & Ecstasy. You're welcome to come with me, if you'd like, but... well, I understand if you might want to see some of your other friends without me being constantly in your hair."
Regulus paused for a moment, nuzzling his cheek against Sekhmet's head as he thought about whether he wanted to accompany Gaius or not. "I would like to visit some friends, but you don't know your way around yet. This is a business trip, and I can pay social calls another time. For now, I think it best if I help you familiarize yourself with the city."
Gaius' eyes widened, and he immediately felt a surge of guilt. He would prefer Regulus come with him, of course, but it wasn't fair to Regulus. "I'll be all right," he said, waving a hand airily. "I won't go far. I'll just stay close to the hotel. There's plenty enough to see." He smiled and shrugged, although a flush rose to his cheeks. "I've no wish to be a burden, you know, or to monopolize your time. There's no reason for you to not combine business and pleasure, and no reason to give it up on my account. Peering into stalls isn't the same as negotiating deals for hundreds of galleons, after all. You go see your friends, I'll be fine."
"In a way, it is the same," Regulus replied. "If you want to learn how to do business here, then you need to learn how to do it on all levels, because it is much the same whether you are haggling over a simple, cheap necklace or a bejeweled antique statue. I came here to teach you," he said firmly, "and that is what I will do." He made a shooing gesture with one hand. "Go and put on some sun screen salve and change your clothes if you like."
"Yes, Sever... I mean, Regulus," Gaius drawled playfully. "All right, if you're determined, I'm not going to protest any longer. I don't have quite that degree ofSnapean stubbornness. I'll be back in a few minutes." He crossed to the door, then paused to look back at Regulus for a moment. "I do appreciate it. I don't want you to ever think that I take anything you do for me for granted." Then with a smile, he departed, hurrying to his own room to change into light robes so that he wouldn't be so obviously a tourist.
They were both ready to leave in a matter of minutes, and it was hours later before they returned to the hotel. Regulus was hot and tired, and evenSekhmet seemed ready to retire to her cushioned carrier for a nap, although she was obviously enjoying her visit to her native land as well.
He unlocked the door to his room and let her in, then he turned to Gaius. "If you don't mind, I believe I would like to stay in and order room service tonight. The heat has been more draining than I anticipated."
Gaius nodded, feeling enervated after the heat and their long, rambling walk through the bazaar. He was thankful for magic allowing him to shrink his numerous purchases down to fit in the pockets of his robes, or else he'd probably be ready to collapse under the weight. "That's an excellent idea. I'd been thinking along those lines myself." He tilted his head to one side. "If you could stand more of my company, you're welcome to join me. The balcony looks big enough for a table, and with evening coming on, we should have a nice breeze. The view into the courtyard is amazing, isn't it? The fountains are lovely."
"Yes, Asar certainly did give us a pleasant view," Regulus agreed. He pocketed his key, deliberating over Gaius' invitation; he was tired, but not feeling particularly antisocial, and being with Gaius wasn't as awkward as it had been as long as they didn't discuss personal matters. As long as they focused on business, he was fine. "All right, let's ask him to supply a table for your balcony. I saw a quill and parchment in the writing desk earlier, and there should be a menu in one of the drawers as well."
"I will take care of it, while you go and relax for a while," Gaius said firmly, his eyes dancing with amusement as he pointed at Regulus' door. "You've done more than your share of taking care of me and my education, but I think I can manage dinner. Is eight o'clock acceptable?"
Regulus raised one eyebrow, surprised by Gaius' firm response, but he shrugged and nodded. "Eight o'clock it is." It would give him time to bathe away the dust of the marketplace and cool off from the heat of the day, so he wasn't about to argue. "I will join you then."
"Excellent!" Gaius was pleased with Regulus' acceptance, and he turned to head downstairs. "I'll get something for Her Majesty, too, so bring her if she'd like to come," he called back over his shoulder, then ran lightly down the stairs in search ofAsar.
Within a surprisingly short time, Asar had made all the arrangements Gaius requested, including offering his personal insights into what selections of the native cuisine were Regulus' favorites. Gaius remembered some of them from their previous visit, andAsar suggested other delicacies, along with the appropriate wines to accompany each course. Pleased with the final plans, Gaius returned to his room, aware of the speculative lookAsar gave him as he left.
By the time eight o'clock arrived, Gaius had bathed and changed into a cool robe suitable for evening, feeling much refreshed after washing away the dust of the afternoon. Asar's efficient staff had delivered a low table inset with elaborate tile mosaics, and a veritable cartload of cushions were arranged around it for them to relax upon. The food was arranged on the table with appropriate warming or cooling charms as suited the dish, and the wines and wineglasses were set within easy wand-reach. The sun had started its descent below the horizon, bathing the entire scene in deep golds and oranges which would soon fade to the magenta and purple of an equatorial sunset, and all in all Gaius was happy with the results. All that was missing was his guest, and Gaius leaned again the open doorway of the balcony, watching the sunset and waiting for Regulus to arrive.
At eight o'clock, Regulus left his room with Sekhmet at his heels and went next door to Gaius' room; the door was open, and so he walked in with only a cursory rap of his knuckles on the door frame. He spotted Gaius standing in the balcony doorway, and he crossed the room, peering over Gaius' shoulder.
"Asar went all out," he said, a note of surprise in his voice. "I was expecting a simple dinner, not a small feast."
"I think it's a tribute to his regard for you," Gaius replied lightly, not mentioning his own part in the selection of either food or the serving style. He turned to greetSekhmet, bending down to caress her ears lightly. "There's a lovely bit of fresh caught fish for you, my lady. Asar assures me that until an hour ago, it was swimming happily in the Nile with no hint of its fate as your dinner. The bowl is on the edge of the balcony, so that you can enjoy the view as well."
Straightening, he gestured toward the table. "Make yourself comfortable. Asar assured me that he included your favorites, and we've the proper beverages to accompany them."
Regulus settled on a plush cushion on one side of the low table and examined the dishes, noting that Asar apparently did remember what he liked because many of his favorites had been included. "He did indeed," he said, nodding his approval ofAsar's selections. "I hope there is something here you like as well, although at least my tastes don't run toward terribly exotic dishes for the most part."
"There's plenty for me, never fear." Gaius settled down on the other side of the table, then pulled his wand and gestured toward the glasses, summoning the wine for the first course. "Here we are. How about a toast, to the success of our business dealings?" He held up his own glass with a smile. "May we both find this trip beneficial."
"I will drink to that," Regulus replied, lifting his glass and touching it to Gaius' lightly. "I am not terribly worried about my expansions failing. Business has picked up so much in the last few months that I feel secure in making these changes. You are starting from a good place as well, since Alchemy and Ecstasy is already well-established. You will be able to use their customer base to build upon, which I have no doubt will enable word-of-mouth about your new endeavours to spread more quickly."
Gaius smiled, then sipped at the wine, enjoying the cool tartness of it on his tongue. "It is definitely a good time to be doing this, for many different reasons," he agreed lightly. "It's odd, I never thought about doing anything except teaching, but now that I've changed gears, I realize how much of a comfortable rut I'd fallen into. I've never been a man to seek excitement, or at least not in the manner of my career and day to day lifestyle, yet now... I'm rather looking forward to it." He dropped his gaze then, not mentioning that the changes were ones that wouldn't bring back painful reminders of how his old life used to be.
"Good." Regulus took a sip of his wine before putting his glass aside and beginning to serve himself some of the tempting dishes spread out on the table. "Change can be a positive thing."
"I believe so, yes." Gaius reached for a piece of semit, a type of bread, and helped himself to a serving of koshari, a mixture of rice and lentils. He sensed that Regulus didn't wish to talk about anything personal, and so he suppressed the desire to make any more observations about himself. "Well, it was interesting looking over the items at the bazaar today. I think I could build an entire house around those wonderful blown-glass bottles. Tear bottles? They were lovely for something that seems so depressing."
"Sometimes the greatest beauty springs from morbid or depressing roots," Regulus said. "The tombs and sarcophagi of the pharaohs, for example. Those were undoubtedly works of art, but they glorified death and grief."
"Perhaps... except the ancient Egyptians believed they were, um, 'taking it with them', didn't they? A comforting philosophy, in a way. But you're right, it is all very beautiful. A monument to man's ability to seek immortality." Gaius took another sip of his wine, then gestured with his glass toward the darkening sky. "It is understandable, though, that they would create beauty, because this land is very beautiful. Harsh, yes, and dangerous, but stunning. I wish to bring that feeling back to England. To let people bask in the heat and wonder of the desert while the skies outside their homes are grey and rainy."
"My sentiments exactly," Regulus agreed. "I doubt I will ever be able to relinquish my ties to this country, nor do I want to. I still have not yet given up the thought of returning here to live, especially now that I have no family ties in England anymore, but for now, I will content myself with bringing Egypt to England as best I can."
"And I shall help," Gaius smiled. He felt a bit of trepidation, however, at the thought of Regulus now having nothing to tie him to England now. Gaius didn't want Regulus to leave, although he could hardly start begging Regulus to remain. He had no right, after all; business associates were all they were, because while he still considered Regulus a friend, he realized that from Regulus' point of view, their relationship was tenuous at best. He wanted more, but...
Gaius sat up abruptly, choking on his wine as the truth of his own feelings washed over him. No, no, no... This won't do. It's hopeless! He barely even likes me anymore!
Regulus frowned, concerned when Gaius unexpectedly choked, but he thought he'd seen Gaius drinking wine, not eating, so he wasn't terribly worried that Gaius was going to asphyxiate on a bit of food. "Are you all right?" he asked. "Did you swallow wrong?"
A waved hand was all Gaius could manage, too busy trying to catch his breath and deal with his turbulent emotions. He finally managed to gasp, holding a napkin to his mouth. "I'm sorry, I must have breathed in the wrong way," he said hoarsely. "I'll be fine." Actually he doubted that, but there was no way he could say what he was really thinking.
Settling back on the cushions, he sighed. "Well. Anyway... are you enjoying the food? I seem to remember you introducing me to some of these things on our last trip."
Now that it appeared Gaius was going to be all right, Regulus nodded and returned his attention to the food. "Yes, it's all very well done," he said. "The view is nice, of course," he added, glancing out at the courtyard, then down atSekhmet, who had finished her fish and was now poised by the railing, seeming to be enjoying the view as well. "It's good to be home."
Gaius studied Regulus' profile, the way the fading light on the sunset played in his dark hair, and he felt a sense of yearning that caused his throat to tighten. "The view is incredible," he murmured, then dropped his gazr to his plate, his appetite fled. "Do you... do you think you will stay in England long, then? Or do you picture setting up the shop and coming back here?"
Regulus glanced back at Gaius, surprised by the question, and he reached for his wine glass again to have a drink while he considered his answer. "I hadn't planned to set up shop and run, no," he replied at last. "I have established a place for myself somewhat, and I'm not eager to leave yet. Sirius wanted me to help look after those he left behind, and I find I can't shirk that duty quite so easily. Perhaps once some time has elapsed and the wounds aren't quite so raw, I will consider my future elsewhere."
"I'm glad you'll be staying," Gaius replied, feeling a surge of relief. Then he sighed. "I'm not glad about what you've suffered, of course, but then I suppose if things... hadn't happened, you'd not be thinking about leaving anyway." He took another sip of his wine. "Certainly, it is possible to have two homes, isn't it? I do, after all. England is where I've made my place, but I'm still a newcomer there to an extent. Germany is the land of my birth, and I miss it sometimes. Or perhaps that is simply me, by nature of being feline in more ways than one. LikeSekhmet, I can be happy wherever I make my place, so long as I have friends."
"Well, you have family in England," Regulus pointed out, reaching out to serve himself another sampling of the many dishes on the table. "You have your brothers and their families, and you are quite close to them all. Sirius and I had made a great deal of progress before he died, for which I am quite grateful, but I have no family left. I am the last Black." He paused, thinking about Bellatrix. "The last sane Black, I should say," he corrected with a grimace. "Friends are nice, but I can visit, and they do not establish the same sort of ties as family."
"What about Draco, or your cousin Nymphadora?" Gaius asked, tilting his head. "They may not have the Black name, but they are kin. Or you could build a family of your own. Only a short time ago Severus had no one, and neither did did Serenus, and now they are in danger of overrunning England with their offspring."
"I don't even know where Draco and Nymphadora are," Regulus replied, reaching for a piece of bread. "And I barely know either of them anyway. Draco was born after I 'died', andNymphadora was part of the estranged branch of the family with whom my parents and I did not associate. While they are technically relatives, they are strangers to me." He fell silent for a moment, considering the other option. "I have considered having a family, but I don't know if I am suited for it. After everything that has happened..." He shrugged, opting not to finish his thought. The conversation had strayed into more personal waters despite his intentions to remain impersonal, and he saw no point in discussing how he felt with Gaius. Again. He had revealed most of it already.
"I didn't know about Severus or Serenus' existence until three years ago, so I can attest that family can be... cultivated," Gaius said slowly. Then he flushed. "Although I will say we don't have the typical fraternal relationship, not having been raised together. I know such things are a risk, but then so is anything worth having. I came to a different country on only a hope and the words of a seer, and it gained me more than I dreamed."
"You were lucky." Regulus smiled slightly. "My luck has not run along those lines."
"I was... but we make our own luck, too." Gaius nodded emphatically. "Look at what you did, escaping England all those years ago. Certainly you would have died if you had not, and it was your own actions and bravery that saved you." He could see Regulus' unease, but he felt this was important. "Your risk ended up giving you a large reward, despite the pain you had to suffer in taking it. Not every risk does, of course. I'd never cared so deeply for anyone until Si... until your brother, and it ended up causing me greater pain than I could have imagined. But that doesn't put me off from hoping to love again. Even if it were to hurt me in the long run."
"An excellent, optimistic attitude." Regulus shifted on his cushions and looked away. "I believe, however, you already know my feelings on the subject of love."
"Feelings can change," Gaius replied softly. "In fact, they are more likely to do so than not. I can attest to that."
"Perhaps." Regulus drew in a deep breath and sat up straight. "But it isn't something I wish to discuss. I said enough on the subject once before, and my feelings have not changed since then."
Gaius knew enough to sense when Regulus had reached his limit, and he bit back a plea for Regulus to not give up yet, that there was love within his grasp if he wanted it. But that would be a certain way to end their friendship completely, and so he stomped down on his own over-eagerness and looked down at his plate.
"Yes, of course," he said, casting about for a safe subject, and latching on to one almost at random. "Do you happen to have a sarcophagus in your storeroom? I was thinking that it would make an excellent piece to draw attention to the shop if we had one in the window, along with some of those cat statues I saw in a box back there. And you know that Halloween is fast approaching, so a mummy - fake, of course, since we wouldn't want to dishonor the dead - might do well for October."
"I don't have one," Regulus said, glad for the change of subject. "But I imagine we could look for one while we are here; there are plenty of reproductions to be found. It would make a good attention-getter, to be sure. I like the idea. If there is anything else you want or need, make a note. We can ask tomorrow while we are meeting with the suppliers."
"All right." Gaius picked up his fork and began to eat again, even though he had no appetite. He had to be careful not to push Regulus too hard, lest he drive him away. Now, more than ever, the thought of that was simply intolerable. "Perhaps into the winter, it would be good to focus on tropical places. I believe I saw some of those Easter Island carvings when I was poking around, which might be nice for November, and maybe India for December? Funny how people claim to want snow for Christmas and then start immediately talking about heading for Spain or the south of France the minute the first flakes fall. At this rate, perhaps you ought to affiliate with a magical travel agency, since I suspect you'll have every wizard yearning for the most exotic corners of the world."
Regulus smiled slightly at that, amused because he recognized the truth in Gaius' words about people yearning for weather the opposite of what they were experiencing. "One affiliation at a time is enough," he said. "I think you have the right of it, in advertising against the season. That will be more intriguing, I think, than putting out reproductions of abominable snowmen in January."
"Save those for June," Gaius agreed, returning the faint smile. "I know when school was finally out, I always gave thought to heading to the Himalayas. So, who are we meeting with tomorrow? I've been brushing up on my Arabic, but Serenus told me my German accent makes it unintelligible. Alas, I suspect my talents don't extend to languages."
"There are translation charms to help with that, if you need them, but the suppliers we will be meeting with tomorrow speak English well enough that I think you will manage," Regulus replied, pushing his food around with his fork before deciding to refill his wine glass instead. A little help in taking the edge off was welcome after the unsettling turn the conversation had taken earlier. "I have known all of them for a very long time, and I trust them. I have informed them that I work closely with your business, and I want them to treat you as they would treat me. You will be in good hands."
"Thank you, that will be very helpful." With a wave of his wand, Gaius summoned the next course of the wine and fresh glasses. "I should learn those charms, I suppose, but I had always thought it polite to learn the language of the people I wish to deal with. I shall just have to be persistent. It shouldn't take me more than a few months. I hope."
"Practice, like anything else," Regulus said, reaching out to stroke Sekhmet when she came sauntering over to see what was going on. She climbed into his lap with the possessive air of one who knew she had the right to be there and curled up, purring, and he continued to caress her with one hand as he held his glass with the other, taking generous sips. "You will do fine. I wouldn't fret over it."
"I won't," Gaius promised, filling his own glass again. He was relaxing again, the alcohol warming him, making the confusion in his mind recede. Or if not recede, at least less immediate and overwhelming. "It's hard to fret in these surroundings, isn't it?" The sun had disappeared completely, and the night sky looked like black velvet scattered with diamonds. He gestured to it with his glass. "Even the sky here looks ancient; I can understand why thousands of years ago, people thought the gods were looking down on them. This place is old, but ageless."
"Yes, it is." Regulus' smile was more natural now as he too admired the night sky, still idly stroking Sekhmet. "I never grow tired of its beauty. It manages to be inspiring and humbling at the same time."
"Definitely. It's clearer here than anywhere else I've ever been." The words were soft, and Gaius knew the double meaning in them even though he knew Regulus wouldn't sense it. He enviedSekhmet's position and Regulus' hand caressing her, and he shifted on the cushions, thinking about how now he didn't want to be Anubis there, but Gaius. "When I was on my way to the Temple to ask for help, I looked up and somehow I felt everything was going to turn out all right. Maybe not at once, of course, or in the way I wanted, but... it makes one realize that their place in the cosmos is assured, no matter how large or small it may be. To be at once great and insignificant."
"And then you returned home, and things began to fall into place." Regulus glanced up from looking at Sekhmet. "You have a place in your brothers' business and a new home. You are beginning your life anew just as you wanted. Such clarity and assurance must be nice."
Gaius' smile was wry. "Believe me, the clarity didn't remain unfogged, and the assurance has wavered a time or twenty. Unfortunately I couldn't take the heavens back to England with me to offer continual reminders. But I hope that the feeling I had then was right, that things can work out. I know you think I'm an optimist, and maybe I'm just looking for validation for that, but I suppose that isn't such a bad thing." He lounged back against the cushions, looking up at the sky again. "Sitting here and seeing it again, though, I can't help but hope I'm right. Not just for me, either."
"You are an optimist," Regulus said before turning his attention upward. "But it does seem things have worked out for you." For him, the vastness of the heavens was a reminder of how small and alone he was in the world, but mellowed by wine and good food, he wasn't bothered by the thought as he might have been otherwise.