WHO: Emiliano Costa & Rosson Wilde WHAT: Getting to know each other high in the sky WHEN: During their stint in Morocco WHERE: Marrakesh, Rooftop bar RATING Low WARNINGS: N/A
The circus was moving again.
Emil could tell that, feel it in his bones, or at least in the shadows. They acted differently when the circus was preparing for a move or maybe they didn’t and that was just him projecting how he was feeling onto them. Honestly? He didn’t know. It also didn’t really matter as ultimately… the move would happen, the shadows would still be there, and a new adventure awaited them in their next city.
Of course Patric’s death would hang over them until enough time had passed that the emotion eased and the visceral memory faded, but it would never be completely forgotten.
Emil for the most part had been keeping busy since the death, either working at the bar or spending time with his sister, but tonight he was taking one last opportunity to enjoy Marrakesh or rather one of their rooftop bars, enjoying drinks he hadn’t made himself and watching the live band perform.
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The last weeks had been different. There was a veil over the circus now, and while the situation was coming to a close he would carry the scars around with him. Ross didn’t do well with traumatic situations. Finding ways to avoid and cope were his reflexes and so being out in the city, drinking and chasing old ghosts into the bottom of cups just seemed like the right thing to do. Sure, he could’ve been some place with someone else, enjoying a bit of privacy, but he actually liked Marrakesh and would be sad to see it go.
With every relocation, Ross experienced a mild stomach ache. It wasn’t true nausea or something that was liable to keep him off of his feet, but it was unsettling all the same.
Something in the music being played did offer some comfort. The drink in his hand was vanishing faster than he wanted it to but the effects were enough to cut through the edge.
His elbow planted itself on the lip of the bar, fingers curled around the nearly empty vessel. He was lost somewhere in his own mind, caught up and ensnared enough not to notice the blue eyed devil perched a couple of seats down from him.
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Emil felt the short hairs across the back of his neck stand on edge which he associated with being watched and as a result turned his head to rest those blue eyes of his on the handsome redhead that had a face that was… familiar to him.
It took longer than it should for Emil to place where he knew the face from.
Rosson or Ross as a lot of people called him, a member of the circus, a firebreather to be exact.
He also looked worse for wear or at least that was Emil was noticing.
Emil picked up his glass and wandered over, a quiet confidence in his stride, and a distinct style that signalled him out as not being local. “It’s Ross, right?”
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“Oui.” From here, Ross could get a better look at the guy. Skin that was easily kissed by the sun on the warmer days, a smile that could stop traffic, and those icy blues that sent a chill up your spine. “I have seen you before, around….” He didn’t really go to the bar to drink. It took a special occasion or a hangout with a friend to get him to break his routine. “Would you like to sit?”
He straightened up a bit so as not to overshadow the vacant spot next to him. The last of the amber liquid in his cup disappeared, and it would be set easily aside.
“What are you drinking?” Hopefully Emil wasn’t trying to stave off the effects of the move and shake away the residual cobwebs from the murder. Could one of them be lucky? Could one of them be fortunate enough to sail through untouched and unblemished by the darkness? Maybe.
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Emil was relieved that he’d remembered the redhead’s name correctly. It would have been pretty mortifying if he hadn’t considering the circus whilst busy was relatively small and if you didn’t know somebody you at least knew of them. Besides, Ross was easy on the eyes with broad shoulders that Emil had definitely admired on more than one occasion. Not in a creepy way, mind you. Just in a ‘I can appreciate a good looking person’ kind of way which had also found him checking out several people from the circus.
“Emiliano, but everybody calls me Emil,” he offered as he eased down onto the stool next to Ross.
He glanced towards his glass and squinted it. “Honestly? I have no fucking idea. I just told the bartender to give me something strong and surprise me.” In hindsight it had been a pretty dumb idea. “You?”
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Emil. It was one of those names that rolled off of the tongue nicely. Ross tucked it away for later. “Ah, we have finally been properly introduced. Pardonne-moi. Eh. I would have approached you sooner but I did not have the courage.” For what it was worth, Ross wasn’t winning any medals for bravery, but he meant well.
Peering down at his now empty cup, he waved the bartender back over and asked politely for a couple of whatever had been poured for his new friend. “We will find out,” he chuckled, turning those brown eyes back upon the blues. “Mine before was, eh…bourbon. Lately I have been drinking far much more than I should.”
But then that just seemed to be the way things had rolled. A scotch, a bourbon. Whiskey. He needed to quit while he was functional.
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“Let me guess, Patric?” Emil ventured, knowing that was the primary reason for his being out and away from the circus, catching his breath and enjoying the city rather than getting bogged under by heavy emotion. “I think you can be forgiven for wanting to take the edge off.”
He raked his fingers through his dark hair and then wet his lower lip unconsciously before catching it between his teeth.
“Sometimes the best medicine is distraction.”
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A hand tilted from side to side in a so-so manner. “Eh, that is the bulk of it. I cannot fathom how such a thing transpired. Everyone that I know is still a little bit wary.” They had every right to be. He hoped that with the move he could feel closing in, that things would shift when it came to mood. “I cannot get too wild,” he chuckled. “The circus would burn.” And much more damage would be done. But he didn’t settle on that idea for too long.
“Oui. I am running out of options.” Between practising his act and staying cooped up inside of his caravan, there wasn’t a lot lately that had much appeal. “But I am open to suggestions.”
When the bartender returned with their drinks, Ross gave a thanks and brought his new beverage to his mouth for a sip.
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Firebreather, literally.
Emil filed it away, nodding his head. “Well, the obvious answer is to find something or somebody to distract yourself with.” Failing that… “There’s also a ton of this place that I’ve not had a chance to explore so tonight is as good a night as any so if you’re interested you could join me?”
Lots of dark alleys, tucked away gems, sights and wonders to find and enjoy.
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Ross smiled. “I would like that, yes.” To explore the unknown with Emil. He could protect them if needed. You could only do so much to escape fire. He took another sip from the cup, letting the warm liquid renew his sense of purpose.
Since the tragedy, his want to roam had lessened. He was grateful for the spark of renewed interest that was ignited by the offer. “What do you have your sights set on the most?” He asked in a soft tone. Was there one thing in particular that Emil was dying to do or see?
He also felt a shred of honor in being asked along on the adventure. Emil probably could’ve lured anyone out into those shadows and so Ross was looking forward to setting out.
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“It’s a toss up between three things. Exploring the Medina Souks, experiencing Djemma El Flna after dark, or grabbing a hot-air balloon ride over the Marrekesh countryside.”
Emil was having a hard time deciding.
“Any of those take your fancy?”
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“Hot air balloon? I cannot say that I have ever seen one before. Why don’t we begin there and if we have time, perhaps we do something else too.” How long did one of those take? Usually he kept his feet on the ground although he couldn’t say for sure as to whether or not he liked to fly. He’d hadn’t ever really been on a plane or that far up in the air before.
“Does that sound okay?” There were about to be a lot of first times with Emil, it seemed, and Ross was delighted about it.
“Do you want to go? I am not sure how long it takes to get to where you want to go…?” Just in case, Ross finished his drink and took care of their tabs.
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Emil’s smile was nothing short of blinding when Ross chose the hot air balloon especially as out of the three choices that was the one he was the most excited about. It wasn’t like a kid growing up in a hippy commune had much of a chance to experience something as exotic as that.
“Works for me,” he had his hand halfway to his jacket so he could take care of his tab but then Ross was paying. “Next time is on me.” The thing about Emil was he appreciated generosity but he also didn’t like being in what he perceived to be debt to somebody else, call it a leftover hangup from when his family didn’t have a dime to their name and they ended up needing help that came with conditions.
He pushed to his feet, tugged on his jacket, and then righted his collar.
“C’mon, I spoke to the guy earlier and he said he’d save me a slot if I wanted to come back later.”
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Thank goodness Ross was caught up when that smile came around or he likely would’ve been rendered into something like a puddle. He was also busy considering what that concept of hot air ballooning was like and found that he was excited about it. He didn’t think he’d ever get the chance again, so why not?
“Deal.” While he hadn’t anticipated having to buy other drinks when he’d left his trailer, it was nice to be surprised. He didn’t mind, either. It wasn’t like he had anyone else to dote on or really much he cared about spending what money he had on.
When Emil was ready, Ross fell into step beside him. “That is kind of him,” he remarked. The vendor really was doing them a favor.
The balloons themselves were massive - much larger than any Ross had ever seen before. His mind couldn’t have even fathomed the height and width of the swollen pocket that trapped air. “Wow.”
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“Right?” Emil asked with a chuckle as Ross’ reaction was an exact replica of his own earlier that day. “Fucking sight to behold.” His eyes glittered with excitement and stood out in the darkness that spilled over the landscape as if unnaturally lit. He gently nudged Ross in the side before breaking away to wander over to the vendor in question.
It seemed as though he was on good terms as the pair exchanged easy back and forth until Emil returned to Ross.
“We’ll go up on the next one.”
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He stood there basking in a measure of awe as Emil broke away to conduct business. Some part of him wished that his twin could be there to see the things that he did in his travels. Those moments of wonder, the ones that inspired you to want to do more of the same. A few balloons were beginning to take off. The vendor seemed to have a handful, and Ross watched the process.
“I bet that the view from up there is….” He just laughed for a moment. “Unlike anything else.” Sure, you could probably get the same effect from a skyscraper or a thrill ride, but the balloon gave you more perspective.
It also didn’t surprise him at all that Emil had made pals of the vendor. The guy seemed pretty smooth.
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“Shame they don’t give you parachutes,” Emil remarked as he dug out a cherry flavoured lollipop out of his pocket, unwrapping it and popping it into his mouth. It was either that or a toothpick, this seemed like the better choice with company. “I imagine skydiving from one of those is pretty fucking awesome.”
He had another lollipop in his pocket and reached in to pull it out, offering it to Ross.
Would be rude not to.
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“You would jump out?” That made Ross blink. He wasn’t sure he would chase a thrill that far but then he didn’t know what that was like, either. “I am not quite sure I am that brave. But I will cheer for you.” This man continued to surprise him and it made Ross wonder if he was somehow magic.
The candy would be accepted. Wrapper disappeared and the flavored end slipped in between his lips. “Thank you.” Tongue wound around the end, and the stick spun.
Never in his life had he thought about standing here in this moment. Maybe he needed to start a bucket list.
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“You only live once,” Emil said with a shrug of his shoulders. “Gotta grab life by the balls.” Or horns,that was another way of expressing that sentiment, but he preferred his choice of words.
He reached up to touch the stick attached to the red globe currently being held in his mouth, playfully twisting it and slipping it out with a distinct wet </i>*pop*</i> before it went right back in.
“But I appreciate your support.”
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Ross laughed. “Oui. Sometimes you do. I am not so brave but perhaps I can learn.” He was already stepping outside of his comfort zone here, waiting on this balloon ride. Maybe he could be coaxed into other things but at present he knew he needed to experience at least this and make other decisions from there. Hope ballooning seemed pretty harmless, enjoyable, relaxing.
That little noise drew his interest. “Ah, anytime.” He could’ve watched Emil enjoy that treat for hours, or really just observed the bartender doing regale stuff. The guy moved like a daydream.
He also had a feeling that there was trouble behind those blues that you could get addicted to.
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Ross’ feeling about Emil and those blue eyes of his was right on the money. He was definitely trouble, but the best kind of trouble. Or at least that was what Emil would say if ever asked directly.
He idly turned the stick around in his mouth as he tipped his head to casually run his gaze over Ross’ form, getting the measure of him, and also thinking himself fortunate to have his company for the evening.
Emil had his mouth open to say something when his name was called and the vendor was gesturing for the pair to come on over.
“Looks like we’re up.”
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Tucking the head of the sucker into a pocket of his cheek, Ross jogged after Emil. It was a brief pause for some instructions he was half listening to, and then a step forward into the little basket that would hold them. A quick glance at Emil and the pyrokinetic grinned. “I like this already,” he murmured around the stick of the sucker, motioning at the flame being expelled from the burner.
It went into the open alcove of the balloon and emitted a gas that would cause the thing to lift. Simple and yet so interesting.
He stuck into place, holding onto the edge with a hand as the basket jolted slightly. The weights tethering them to the ground were moved and before he knew it they were airborne.
The controls seemed easy enough - pull there to get more flame and go higher, pull here and let the flame ease back for lowering. Hopefully the thing would stay afloat.
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“Why does that not surprise me?” Emil remarked with a laugh though soon turned his focus to holding on as the balloon was made ready for flight until eventually it levelled out and not too dissimilar from a meerkat Emil popped his head up to find that they were in fact airborne.
He finally rose to his feet and clasped the edge of the basket, lollipop safely tucked away in his right cheek as he did so.
“Wow,” he murmured softly as he looked out over the view below.
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“Are you alright?” Ross also peered over the edge of the basket, looking at the wonder of the landscape below. Morocco was a beautiful place and he was glad to observe its topography at such a vantage point. Moments later he was chewing through the candy in his mouth and the stick would find a new home in a pocket.
The air up there was colder but not terrible, just enough to offset the heated climate down below.
“This must be what it is like to be a bird.” Maybe that was silly but it’s how he felt in the moment.
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“Yeah, yeah, I’m good.” Emil nodded. “It’s just way more beautiful than I thought it was going to be.” He glanced over in Ross’ direction. “You? Still enjoying the experience?”
And if the shadows seemed to be less up here, not quite so consuming or overwhelming, then that was definitely the case because of Emil.
What would be the point of this experience if you couldn’t see anything?
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The fire in the middle of the balloon flickered, intensifying for a half of a moment as Ross offered Emil a grin. “Oui. Very much so.” The flame itself abated, settling down again as they floated along. “I have never seen anything so beautiful before.” The land wasn’t flat and prickles of lights shone up toward them as if the stars had traded places with the earth.
He moved around the basket, taking his time to see every part of the spread below them. A gentle nudge would be given to Emil’s shoulder, “I am glad that I ran into you earlier.” He wouldn’t be there now if he hadn’t, and the thoughts of tragedy and murder had taken a back seat for once in a long time. Ross couldn’t repay Emil for that even if he wanted to.
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“It really is something, huh?” Emil like Ross had never seen anything like this. Yes, he’d done a lot of travelling and moving around as a kid and into his early teens, but never outside of the United States and never by hot air balloon.
He glanced over at Ross as the firebreather nudged him and grinned.
“Hopefully a suggestion you don’t regret exploring.”
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“Non. I do not really have much that I regret doing,” Ross explained. “Perhaps a few things in the past. But not this.” An adventure was what this was, and it was rare to have them. They lived in a world of magic and mystery, and even that lost its luster after a while of being involved in it. “I am glad to know that the world still has beautiful things in it. It helps when there is too much darkness.”
The company wasn’t terrible, either. “Tell me something about you? it does not have to be bad or a secret. We did not get a chance earlier to exchange many words and so where better than here where it is quiet?”
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Ironic that Ross should mention darkness considering the giift that Emil had control over but it wasn’t something he tended to advertise. Not because he was keeping it a secret or anything like that but more because it didn’t really come up in conversation.
He bit down on the candy and chewed on it loudly and thoughtfully as he considered what he should tell Ross.
“Well, I’m a big brother, and I was raised by hippies.”
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That knowledge made his shoulders slump but he did his best not to show it. “Oh? Siblings can be very good sometimes.” Annoying, but good. He thought about his own every day, wishing there was some way he could’ve traded places with them. There was no family left that he knew of. “Why did you come here?” To the circus, he meant. It sounded like Emil had a family.
Hiding his own power was concealing who he was. It was a penance he advertised for the wrong that he’d done. If people knew he made fire they would stay away and that was the best place for them.
He didn’t mean to play twenty questions but there wasn’t much else to do unless Emil wanted to be warmer.
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Emil watched curiously as Ross’ shoulders slumped and his energy took a distinct and evident decline which honestly was not what the experience was about. Maybe he’d said something wrong?
He shifted carefully to stand closer to the other, gently nudging him. “Sorry if I said something that upset you. My mouth sometimes gets the better of me, runs away before I get a chance to filter it and shit.”
“My sister, mostly” he admitted with a chuckle. “She wouldn’t shut up about it and it wasn’t really that different from how we were used to living our life. Plus we get to see new places every month which honestly? I never thought we would. Not many opportunities for kids raised off the grid.”
In spite of wearing a jacket Emil felt a shiver run through him because it was much colder at these altitudes than he anticipated. “How are you not cold, man?”
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“Ah, non. You do not need to apologize. You did nothing wrong.” Ross was just broken. A monster who did a terrible thing and Emil shouldn’t have to feel the brunt of it. Honestly he was glad that his new friend had a family and that they seemed to get along. Having people who shared your blood was important, but found family could mean just as much.
As Emil indulged about his sister, Ross smiled. “Travelling can be exciting. It makes for good memories.” Even when bad things happened and you ached to get to the next place.
Ross moved over and carefully wrapped Emil up in an embrace easy to break out of if it wasn’t wanted or needed. “I run hot. Fire is sort of my thing,” he reminded the other. A hand would lift up and in his palm flickered on a small, dancing flame. He held it where Emil could see it and then it would go out again. “My body naturally is like a furnace. I am not cold often, but I am always happy to lend a bit of my warmth if you need it more.”
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Emil tensed but only briefly especially when he felt just how warm Ross was and he practically melted, wondering if he could borrow him on the colder nights because there were some evenings when he couldn’t sleep and the cold just seemed to seep into his bones.
“That’s really cool,” he enthused, not aware of Ross’ dark history. He turned his head to watch the flame as it flickered utterly entranced. His own power he thought was pretty cool, but fire? That was even cooler. Probably scary though, fire was all consuming after all and it took on a life of its own if you weren’t careful.
“Wanna know another secret?”
Impulsively he wanted to share his own power.
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When Emil didn’t pull away, Ross lingered in close to continue to offer up some of that natural warmth. Curious, he nodded. “Oui. I do. What is it?” Being in the cirque brought a lot into perspective for him when it came to powers or abilities. He didn’t go as far as to assume that everyone was gifted but he also didn’t try to underestimate anyone, either.
Gently, his palm slid up and down Emil’s back, across shoulders and anywhere that might need a boost of heat. He made sure to keep things respectful.
Hopefully whatever his new friend wanted to share wasn’t a terrible secret. He, himself, wasn’t sure that he’d be able to ever confess to what he’d done to someone else.
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Emil didn’t so much tell as he did show.
He pulled on the darkness which existed around them until it seemed to move like ink through water, seemingly plucked straight out of the air and manipulated to Emil’s whim, which in this moment was to form a comical hand which simply waved.
There were other uses and applications of his power, which he’d used before, but this felt like a good way of introducing Ross to his ability.
It was also a very quick way of getting around if he wanted to as well.
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Ross blinked.
That was….something. “Wow..” never before had he imagined anyone could move the actual darkness but now that he’d seen it for himself he wondered if he was reaching a point where it would be hard to keep being surprised. “I am….impressed. That is an amazing ability!” He smiled at Emil. “And very suitable for you. You have an air of mystery and I think that it is perfect.” He also wondered if Emil’s sister or the bloodline itself had the same gifts.
At times it was easier to show. His power was a lot more dangerous and he tried not to use it unless he was performing or if it couldn’t be helped. But an ability as fluid as Emil’s could have safer uses and was likely beneficial.
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“Air of mystery?” Emil asked, smirking a moment later. “I like the sounds of that.” The hand dissipated not long after as he stopped focusing on it and instead threw himself back into Ross’ company and conversation. “My sister’s power though, that’s the real show.” And she did make good use of it, entertaining people on the Midway.
The siblings were a perfect mix and blend of their parents in that regard.
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“Siblings tend to be complimentary,” Ross agreed. He had seen many a pair of them in the cirque who possessed abilities or gifts that helped balance out the other. And, there were some siblings, too, who had no powers at all while the other sibling did. It was too much for him to think about. “But I would like to see her ability, too. I am sure that it is quite fabulous.”
If Emil was any indication, anyway. Ross thought he was stunning, and the chances were high that he would think the same of the guy’s sister.
Ross was glad that Emil had her and they got along, could thrive together.
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“I’m sure all you’d have to do is ask her and she’d be happy to give you a demonstration,” Emil answered with a smirk. “She lights up the Midway on the daily anyways.”
He clasped the edges of the hot air balloon and turned to look at Ren.
“Thanks for coming along with me on this and being willing to take a leap of faith, I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship or whatever.”
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Ross chuckled. “Ah. Perhaps I would be that brave.” It was doubtful but nothing said he couldn’t admire from afar in the same way he did the rest of the performances.
“Oui. Thank you for asking me to come along with you. I do hope so.” He could use more friends.
From down below a shout would come, their cue to come back down. With a playful grin plastered across his face the flame in the canister began to dwindle carefully without needing to touch any of the chains, and the balloon began its easy descent back toward Earth.