bitten_notshy | de Ulloa Residence, Baltimore, Friday Afternoon (Reply)

The last two weeks had been, by any standards, a trial. The weekend with Tony at home held the promise of acting like a balm to Jack's slightly frayed psyche.

If he had any nerves about taking Tony home -- and 110 years out of his own time -- they didn't show as the carriage from the train station neared Sebastien's townhouse.

"You look handsome," he said, eying Tony favorably. "Is there anything in particular you want to do? I think the weekend's ours."

Tony Foster	"It's your world," Tony smiled. "Show me around?"
Jack Priest	"We're a bit lacking in demons," Jack teased. "You might find it boring, next to yours." He paused. "There are some interesting Irish pubs where I've been wasting time, on my visits."
Tony Foster	"Hey, boring is good," Tony said, with feeling. "A pub's like a bar, right?"
Jack Priest	Jack didn't need to ask about the emotion in Tony's tone; he felt much the same. "Exactly like a bar," he said. "No zombie bands, but that's only Fandom anyhow. There are interesting people at the one I like."
Tony Foster	"All right," Tony smiled. "A beer sounds good, anyway."
Jack Priest	"You know it probably won't be as cold as you're used to," Jack pointed out. Though he liked the idea of a beer, too.
Tony Foster	"What, warm beer, British style?" Tony shrugged. "I guess I can live with that."
Jack Priest	"You have to, unless you want to invent refrigeration," Jack suggested in a whisper. He leaned forward, seeing where they were on the road. "And we're here. See the house with the blue door?"
Tony Foster	"Is that your place or are you just admiring the style?" Tony asked.
Jack Priest	"Admiring it," Jack said, crooking a grin. "I was thinking it would be improved by some zinnias in a window box. What do you think?"
Tony Foster	"Maybe petunias," Tony suggested, grinning back.
Jack Priest	"You think? I can see that. I'll make the suggestion to Sebastien," Jack said, as the carriage rolled to a stop. He reached to squeeze Tony's hand. "Ready?"
Tony Foster	Tony squeezed his hand back. "Ready," he said.
Don Sebastien de Ulloa	As it was still the afternoon, Sebastien was very much restricted to his home. This might have seemed an inconvenience, but at his age, he had learned that there was usually as much to do within as without for those patient enough. That was why he was enjoying a book in the somewhat-dim study, at least he was until he heard the entrance of a familiar step. And a known, if unfamiliar step. He liked to think he was, at the very least, a passable host and as such, slipped out of his chair with the book quite forgotten to greet and once more talk with Jack's otherworldly (in the most literal sense) friend.
Jack Priest	"It's us," Jack called as he let them in, and shut the door quite firmly against the sunlight before going into the parlor. He ran his eyes over Sebastien with his usual concern; not too sallow, which was -- well enough. Better than him wasting away, certainly. "It's wonderfully good to see you," he half-blurted, before shifting to a slightly more formal tone. "Sebastien, you remember Tony. Are the rooms made up, or shall I do it?"
Tony Foster	"Hello again," Tony said.
Sebastien de Ulloa	"I've taken care of the rooms," Sebastien informed him with the smallest of smiles. As if he thought Jack would want to spend any of his time here dealing with bedding. Then he turned to Tony, who he offered a bow of his head. "Good day," he answered to the other young man. Of course, he'd liked Tony when they'd met and he was glad that Jack had friends of his own age, but there was some small niggling emotion, a trickle of possessiveness he knew was both unfair and unreasonable, that kept his smile small.
Jack Priest	As if either of them were fair about possessiveness. "Thank you," Jack said. "How have you been? Tony thinks we should plant some petunias out front."
Sebastien de Ulloa	"I think that would be something I would leave up to you," he said with a tilt of his head to Tony even if his eyes were on Jack. "Considering." His gaze flicked towards the door outside before he turned to gesture further into the house. "Someone is cooking... something. It smells reasonably good to me, anyway."
Tony Foster	"Food's good," Tony said. He glanced over at Jack to see if food was acceptable at this time.
Jack Priest	Food was always acceptable to Jack. "I could use a meal," he said. "Let's eat" -- not you, Sebastien -- "and we can make plans for the weekend. I'm afraid Sebastien might put us to work." He sounded as if he wasn't 'afraid' of that so much as 'tremendously hopeful.'