Thread: Arrival At Conclusions WHO: Gilderoi & Van WHEN: April 24, sunset WHERE: Athletics Field
When Ms. Hallowfen dismissed Van for the dinner hour, Van went in search of Gil. It was the only window of time he had in the day to himself besides evening after curfew, but Van couldn't take any chances of sneaking out of Hydra dorms to go to Sphinx and try to wake Gil. He was afraid to find out just how much worse his detention could get.
Gil wasn't in the dining hall, but Van spotted Felicity and Galad eating together and went to them to ask about the other twin's whereabouts. Galad had given Van a knowing look that the kelpie had tried to ignore. He didn't want to know what Gil told Galad about him. Van gave Felicity a pleading look, and that had done the trick in convincing Galad to divulge the location of his brother.
Van jogged out to the field, not wanting to waste any time. Soon enough he'd have to be back in Ms. Hallowfen's office.
Galad had said that Gil was out in the athletics field practicing some archery, so Van approached the field from the main path so as not to be mistaken for something Gil should shoot at. He wondered briefly if his extra caution would even matter. Gil had been cross with him ever since that night he'd shown up in Van's room and proclaimed his feelings. They'd been on the outs since then, but the time had given Van the chance to think and he'd finally come to a comfortable place about it.
Van came around the bleachers, a breath drawn to call out to Gil, but the sound caught in his throat as he spotted the elf on the manicured grass. Gil was standing with his feet apart, arms up and steady as he drew back the bow and aimed for his target. The elf cut a lean and powerful figure in the lowering late afternoon light. Without a shirt on, Van could see how each of Gil's muscles moved, not only in his arms but all along his torso to hold the bow back and wait. Van didn't know what kind of pressure it took to draw such a weapon, but he knew the flex of the wood and tightness of the string were not light.
He approached warily, hands ready to wave to gain Gil's attention, but he held off in order to watch Gil fire the arrow at the foam archery target. Van stopped on the edge of the grass and stuck his hands in his pockets to wait. The sight of Gil, who had been his first lover, made Van's heart seize in his chest and he very nearly turned around and walked away. Instead, he forced himself to stay and say what he'd come to say. Gil deserved an answer that wasn't a knee-jerk defense, and Van had one for him.