RP: Acquainted with the Night Who: Jon Snow and Robb McLellan When: 23 August 2013; sunset Where: Outside patio at House Baratheon, Los Angeles, Ca. Status: Complete Word Count: 7,581
Summer nights on western shores were nothing at all like those experienced on the Isle of Arran. Here, air and light pollution often blurred the stars; put a hazy halo around the moon and along the horizon line. Not the best place for proper stargazing but one thing Robb McLellan would admit - the sunsets in California were truly amazing. Vivid purple-reds and orange, indigo and saffron painted the sky. Every minute the colors shifted, grew more intense as the very last rays of daylight made an indelible impression upon the visual and spiritual senses.
It helped Robb relax in slow degrees. Allowed him to better focus the mad jumble of thoughts and emotions tumbling wildly inside ginger noggin. In barely an hour he and Jon would leave behind their old selves, shedding their clothes, beliefs... Control.
A boy-to-man right of passage for both. An initiation once successfully completed they would (he fervently hoped) assume 'new' identities, allow them to re-enter the world with a whole different status and mental outlook. A transition forged not with heat and hammer but mutual understanding. There would be pain along the way, yes, but not necessarily the physical kind though Robb had no doubts whatsoever Jon would find paddle and lash set to back and backside far, far more appealing.
He managed to shove mouthwatering image of his better half down on all fours gagged, bound and loving it, for that sort of lurid business only led to an inconvenient stiffy he wasn't allowed to do anything about right now. Or the next ruddy day and a half, inner voice that wore the red suit and wielded a pitchfork reminded him rather pointedly. His inner voice had a lot to say tonight, mostly grousing about the general state of affairs concerning Renly's last-minute caveat. Wanker. I knew he would pull something like that.
And why not? Strange was notoriously devious. Far too clever for his own good sometimes. Got his jollies being one of the biggest, most influential schemers in a town where manipulation was ordered up like brekkies at the local cafe: hot and fast. But his friend was also very good to those he cared most about - Reckon he's sunk a fortune into jewelery alone for Loras. And then there's us...
Us. Me and him. Jon and Robb. Two very different individuals somehow making it work. Partners. Lovers. One hand holding the other, forever and ever and ever.
"What are you thinking?" Robb asked, lyrical burr purposely kept low so as not to disturb the bubble of serenity they'd created nor the steady chirping of night bugs. Soon as the question hit the air he had to smile a little and tighten the hold across Jon's shoulders. Hah! Should've asked what he's not thinking about. The list would've been at least two pages shorter.