InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "fire bad. tree pretty."

Evander "VAN" Rycroft (lostlittleboy) wrote in toujoursliberer,
@ 2008-07-29 14:07:00

Entry tags:

evander_rycroft, nell_abbot

Welcoming Party
Subject: Welcoming Party
Who: Evander, Nell
Where: Evander's Room, Bridge Theatre
Warnings: Underage naughtiness

Evander was still in a state of shock, or rather, surprise. He didn't expect to have been yanked out of his hiding place, and oh Harry could be rather scary when he was angry. He didn't like that Robin and Nell might have gotten in trouble for concealing his hiding in the Theatre, and he still felt bad for that.

But Harry said he could stay. And he had his own room now though it was nothing to speak of though he hoped he could fix that sooner than later. His small trunk was still hidden under the bed and Evander wanted to take things out and clean the room up.

Robin and Harry had left he and Nell in the room, and Nell was going to give a 'sales pitch' according to Harry. Evander stood by the wardrobe and should be amused, his nervous self taller than Nell but feeling even tinier. He looked at Nell and smiled softly. "Thank you. For not telling Harry I was here before. I didn't mean to get you or Robin in trouble but I'm glad he didn't get too angry either. I... I know you don't like me and I don't say the right things; I didn't mean to upset you. Before I mean, so yes, thank you."

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little_star
2008-07-29 04:39 pm UTC (link)

Nell sighed softly, settling down on the bed and brushing down the skirt of his costume, still slightly annoyed this had all happened with him half-undressed. It was hardly dignified.

"That's fine. Water under the bridge now." He said, glancing up at Evander. "And I wouldn't have told. I don't snitch. So, you going to work here then? I mean it's not glamorous work but if you think you can handle it the men are mostly nice and Harry sorts out the ones who aren't."

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lostlittleboy
2008-07-29 04:45 pm UTC (link)

Evander looked at him and nodded. "I didn't mean to imply you did or would. But you didn't know me, didn't have a reason to not say anything. I guess I'm just used to everyone doing what they have to, to survive and not be punished."

He walked the short distance to the bed and sat slowly on the edge near the foot board. "I guess, I mean Harry said I could. I've never worked before though. For as long as I can remember, I just did what I was told. I was taught what to do and it was my responsibility to ensure all who came to me were not disappointed," he said softly.

"You're lucky to have Harry. He seems to care about you all very much."

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little_star
2008-07-29 04:51 pm UTC (link)

"He does." Nell said gently, forgetting himself for a moment. He swallowed and shook his head quickly to remind himself about what he was supposed to be doing.

"Not disappointed?" He said with a smile. "I'm sure you'll be very popular then, although we all try our best. So you know where everything’s going to be going right? We don't want any first client jitters turning into full blow hysterics. I mean virginity is nice and all but it doesn't half hurt if you don’t know what’s going in where."

He grimaced a little, remembering his own first time although he'd not been with a client but with Harry who'd been trying to teach him the ropes and gotten two or three lessons ahead of himself.

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lostlittleboy
2008-07-29 05:42 pm UTC (link)

Evander watched as Nell talked of Harry and he relaxed. "That's good. To have someone looking out for you, especially when it's hard for you to do it on your own, it's helps."

He listened to what Nell said and smiled, nodding, thinking candor would be best. "I was a love slave in the palace of Cordoba. I was taught to be whatever the one I was with wanted, and haven't been a virgin since I was 12. No full blow hysterics I promise."

Instinctively Evander reached up and gently caressed Nell's cheek when he grimaced before he realised what he was doing and pulled away. "Sorry."

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little_star
2008-07-29 05:55 pm UTC (link)

"Eleven for me." Nell said. He jumped when Evander touched his cheek, not expecting that and rubbed at the spot he'd touched. "Oh, think nothing of it. It's the job. Everyone gets over affectionate. I know I am."

Sometimes too much so, especially when he'd been drinking.
"A slave?" He said then, looking at Evander quizzically.

"Yes, but it's very simply set up here. I suppose you do what you did there only they pay you. Well, they pay Harry and he gives you a cut of it. The rest goes on food and clothes and up-keep."

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lostlittleboy
2008-07-29 06:18 pm UTC (link)

He smiled back. "Over affectionate isn't a bad thing is it? Close quarters and friendship, it happens, or so I've been told."

Evander nodded and looked down, a little ashamed though there wasn't cause for it. "A slave. I was taken while coming home. I don't remember much from back then. They called me Diyari but I always held onto my own name or I think I might have forgotten it too. I was lucky though. The nephew of the ruler liked me, didn't let me go to the fields or be bought by someone who would mistreat me. When I wasn't being used, I got to spend my free time as I wanted, reading and learning."

He flushed just a bit after rambling like that. "Well I don't eat much and I can wear whatever I need to. I don't want to be an imposition either."

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little_star
2008-07-29 06:41 pm UTC (link)

"Yes, but Harry's not too keen on it going too far. Doesn't want anyone getting all possessive or silly an' saying they're not going to work because they're in love or something."

Nell nodded, licking his lips. He didn't really know what to say to it. He'd never met a slave before, or an ex-slave and when he thought about the idea of having to work for someone and having no say in it he felt sick.

"Not an imposition. Oh, and you'll have to act in the shows, everyone does but if you get stage fright Harry'll just give you a little part. He's trying to make us more presentable at the moment with some Shakespeare."

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lostlittleboy
2008-07-29 09:20 pm UTC (link)

"That makes sense. I've never been in love, well not really so I can't imagine it getting in the way of work."

Evander sighed and held his hands in his lap. "I'm sorry. I've said too much. I don't mean to make you uncomfortable. I do often say the wrong things when I should just be quiet." Part of him just wanted to run and hide again, just be invisible again.

"I like the shows. I've been watching, from the back. You all are very very good. I think I'd like being a part of that a lot. Even if you don't look like you like kissing Robin at all," he said. He couldn't imagine it, not liking that. Truth be told, Evander wouldn't mind kissing either of the boys. Or a lot of the boys here, but he kept that mostly to himself.

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	little_star 2008-07-30 05:27 am UTC (link)
	"No, no. I...just wasn't sure what to say, that was all." Nell said quickly, not wanting the other boy to be upset but sure anything he could have said then would have sounded foolish. Nell pulled a face. "Well, yes but Robin is Robin. That's Harry's idea of a joke - putting us together on stage." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lostlittleboy 2008-07-30 08:45 am UTC (link)
	"It's okay, I don't expect most people would. At least it's all behind me now and I'll try to move on or something," he said offering Nell a smile. "A joke," Evander queried at Nell's statement. "But why? I know it's just my opinion but you both look very good together.... on stage I mean. Even if you do look like you always wan to kill him." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	little_star 2008-07-30 08:52 am UTC (link)
	Nell shrugged. He knew they looked good together, Robin with his clean cut boyish charms and Nell with his feminity but it didn't stop them disliking each other all the same. "Can't help it. Some people just don't get on together. He thinks he's better than me." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

lostlittleboy
2008-07-30 09:16 am UTC (link)

Evander nodded. "That's true. I guess if everyone got along, things would be rather dull and uneventful, and probably nothing would get done either. I don't know why he would think that though I am rather jealous of you both," he replied shyly and then rather badly changed the subject.

"So have you been here, at the Theatre long? I've noticed, watching you all, that the others often defer to you about things. Are you the leader?"

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little_star
2008-07-30 09:26 am UTC (link)

"Jealous? Why?" Nell asked, not really able to see what Evander had to be jealous about. He was attractive and young just like Nell and Robin.

He let out a shocked little laugh.
"The leader? I suppose you could say that. I've been here the longest and I'm Harry's favourite so I guess the other’s just follow my lead because they know it won’t get them into trouble."

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	lostlittleboy 2008-07-30 11:30 am UTC (link)
	"You really have to ask? You two, the others... it's not hard to see why this place is so popular. Um, that's all." Harry's favourite. Evander could see why. Nell reminded him of of the beautiful paintings in the palace. "I can see why your the favourite too. And I'll do my best not to get into trouble. Well, anymore at least." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	little_star 2008-07-30 11:42 am UTC (link)
	Nell laughed, leaning back on the bed and glancing at Evander. "Well, give it a week and you'll probably be just as popular as we are." "You're not in trouble, not really. Harry's more angry that we didn't trust him enough to tell him, especially with this Slater character hanging around the theatre trying to offer us jobs we don't want." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

lostlittleboy
2008-07-30 11:47 am UTC (link)

Evander smiled though he blushed a little too, something he didn't normally do. "I don't know. I think I have a lot to learn before that happens. But thank you."

He nodded and was trying to understand. "I shouldn't have hidden out for so long. It was just getting easier and easier to do. He won't stay angry will he? I'll do extra chores or work to help." Evander sighed. It was important to him that Harry liked him, wanted him to really stay.

"This Slater person, he doesn't seem very nice at all."

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	little_star 2008-07-30 11:55 am UTC (link)
	"Harry? No! He's got another worker and as soon as the money comes in he'll forget all about this. It'll become a funny little story he'll tell regulers." Nell looked down, licking his lips before he spoke again. "He's not. He...killed someone, a long time ago now, but someone who was special to Harry." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

lostlittleboy
2008-07-30 12:04 pm UTC (link)

Evander leaned back a bit and smiled. "That's good to know. I didn't make exactly the best impression with him. But I'll work hard so he doesn't regret wanting me to stay."

He frowned, and the look of surprise couldn't be helped. "He did? It... was it one of the boys?" he asked softly, thinking. "And now he's coming around again? What if those boys, who came after me were working for him? They might have killed me too."

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little_star
2008-07-30 12:14 pm UTC (link)

"Harry's first boy - Georgie. He used to work for Slater, but Slater beat him something feirce and made him work when he couldn't or shouldn't have. Harry took him away from all that, was trying to make it better but Harry was only seventeen, hardly any older than Georgie and in and out of jail. One night Slater came and he...he killed him and dumped his body in the river. Harry's never, never forgiven himself for not being there." Nell took a deep breath, the story still upsetting him even now although it had been fiveteen years and he'd not even been born when it happened.

"Harry was worried you were a plant by Slater but they could have been. So far though Slater's only...only come to see me." He gave Evander a small, worried smile. "Doesn't do much for a boy's confidence that."

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lostlittleboy
2008-07-30 12:32 pm UTC (link)

Evander's eyes grew wide as Nell spoke. He'd seen many things in Cordoba, in the palace, on the ship that brought him there, but this was different somehow, he just didn't know why. "Oh my god, that's horrible. Poor Harry. He was barely my age when that happened," he whispered, putting a hand on Nell's when the memories of the story put a pained look on his pretty face. "Was there nothing to be done? To Slater I mean."

He looked up at Nell. "He... Slater... he wouldn't... hurt you, or the others for not going with him, would he? I've seen how Harry looks at you. I think he'd kill anyone who tried to hurt you."

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little_star
2008-07-30 01:08 pm UTC (link)

Nell shook his head. "No, Harry went to prison for something - stealing I think, but before that he paid Georgie to have a proper burial in a local church."

Nell swallowed, blinking a few times to stop himself from crying. He hated the memory of Georgie, hated that Harry had loved someone so much once but he also couldn't stand what had happened to him, nor the threat hanging over his own head.
"I don't know, but so far no-one else has been there when he's seen me and...but Harry taught me how to fight someone off if I get attacked." He motioned to the thick black cord wrapped around his wrist, pretty and decorative but hiding it's true purpose. "I know it's not a nice idea but I don't want to end up like Georgie"

Or any other number of prostitutes but he didn't mention that. Harry took care of them and he wouldn't let that happen.

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lostlittleboy
2008-07-30 01:29 pm UTC (link)

Evander felt bad for talking and Nell having to relive something that was so horrible and hurt. "I'm sorry Nell, for all that's happened."

He looked down, reaching out to slightly touch the cord wrapped around Nell's small wrist. "The boys, they jumped me or I would have fought back. I got taught, years ago, how to fight and protect myself. No one will hurt me again, not like that," he said but smiled and looked at nell, moving closer.

"We don't want you, or any of us to end up like him either. I know I'm new and barely know the others, but I've watched you lot and it seems like you'd protect each other." He moved to hug Nell; the younger boy seemed to need it but hesitated, not wanting it to be unwelcome.