prohibitions | When love became an act of defiance

Jonathan perks his head up at the mention of worse injuries. What could a sheltered mage be hurt worse from? There was the mention as assassinations before but that wouldn't be the case, otherwise, Abel would've been taken care of by now. None of this was really adding up and he's dragged out of his thoughts so suddenly.

He wasn't expecting to stop nor was he expecting the other to kiss him in the same swoop either. He's wide-eyed and momentarily stunned when Abel pulls away, almost like he's trying to process what just happened. There's a brief second before his body automatically moves on its own, cupping Abel's face and kisses him again, this time longer than the first.

There's a small smirk when he pulls away, "I think that is more worthy compensation."

It's only a mask of confidence that falls as soon as he turns away and continues down the path, too flustered to look at the other again. To which the other can probably hear the whirlwind of thoughts and taste the emotions dripping off of him.

Jonathan makes a note to never take a job like this again. To let a target live and to be kissed by them, let alone reciprocating was not the best route to take. This wasn't how this was supposed to go.

There's almost a sad look in Abel's eyes as he reads the other like a book. Jonathan's curiosity about previous injuries and experiences. He's pretty sure that they would have done better as a protector than a killer and he wonders if Jonathan was even trained for assassination. Their movements just seemed a tad too sloppy to be trained specifically for it.

Ah well.

He thinks that's not terrible. A man so gentle like the other has no need to dirty his hands in such a way. Abel is sure their game will end with him just letting the other off. He doesn't think Jonathan needs his blood on his hands. Or his conscience for that matter.

Abel is presently surprised when the other kisses him back. He hadn't expected the other to actually return the gesture. He certainly isn't complaining. His grin almost softens a bit. Ah, it's so easy to tease someone like Jonathan.

He walks with the other until they get to the beginning of the maze all over again. The sounds of the party can be easier to hear and the mansion was masked in darkness other than for all the lights in each window shining through. "Well, let's give them a good show, yes?"

If Abel ever asked, he would say that he wasn't. He knows assassins, knows they treat their specialty like a dance and had one of them been sent in his stead, they would've finished this charade in less than ten moves with less emotional involvement than he.

Either way, it's too late to dwell on such thoughts.

Jonathan stares up at the mansion before shifting his attention to Abel, "Yes but before we go in..." He turns fully to face the other, ruffling his hair a bit and messing with his clothes. If their story was that an unknown assailant attacked Abel in the maze, he should look the part a bit better. His only injury was his wrist while he still looked otherwise untouched.

He tilts his head once he was done, "That should do it." Scooping up the other was easy, walking back into the main dining hall where Abel had first walked out of was more attention than he bargained for. A hush practically fell over the room before hushed whispers of speculation followed.

He wasn't quite sure what to do besides keep walking further into the space, had Abel's injuries been a little than a broken wrist, he likely would've played the role a bit more dramatically. Called out for help immediately, made a much more ridiculous scene. It wasn't long before people had surrounded the two of them, more guards than anything, besides one who demanded answers for what transpired.

Abel plays the role of an injured man quite well. Everyone seems to coo over him as he moans in pain. He isn't melodramatic about it either. Just enough that one would think he was in serious, grave danger.

Everyone seems to take his story well. Getting some fresh air and being attacked so suddenly. Being saved by Jonathan and brought back to safety. It's eaten up so easily and before they know it, Jonathan will find himself in Abel's room where the man was told to be brought to for bed rest.

His injuries had been healed, though he opens and closes his hands and spins his wrist a bit with a wince. Healing was never the issue, but it was the recovery of broken bones that was always a pain.

Still, he drops his hands into his lap before looking at Jonathan with a smirk. "I look forward to our game."

Jonathan is glad to finally leave the crowd that had surrounded them, giving a slow glance back as his guided to taking Abel to his room. He's used to the sound of the overwhelming white noise of people talking over each other but this... this was more than he was expecting. After being told to set the other on the bed, he makes it a point to stand off to the side and out of the way.

He watches as Abel's wounds are healed including his broken wrist and he's told to stay in the room until his father was ready to speak with him specifically. Probably something to do with saving his son's life which Abel already predicted would happen.

"I think that makes one of us," Jonathan repeats with a playful enough smile as he crosses his arms. He obviously wouldn't be able to catch the other unawares tonight but it doesn't stop him from thinking about it. How to catch unsuspecting enough to get close. To win this.

"I know you said this was a game with unlimited chances to catch you unaware... surely you would have ruled in the potential of me just waiting for you to wake up again and using that as an opportunity, right?" He knows he wouldn't. What good would that be for Abel's fun? Though he was playing the role of an assassin so that idea wasn't out of the question.

"You don't think this will be fun?" Though, maybe it was a little messed up to find it fun to basically look forward to a game that would eventually end with his death.

Well, he never said that he wasn't a bit fucked up.

"Because you don't seem like the type to try anything pretty underhanded. A little too honest for that," Abel says with a light enough smile. It isn't said in a mocking tone, but more matter-of-fact. Honestly, the other seemed like a good man. A good man in a rather unfortunate situation. "I wouldn't stop you though. If that's how you wanted to do it," he replies with a shrug.

"I think you and I have very different definitions of fun." A job in murder wasn't his idea of it.

Jonathan walked over towards where Abel was sitting, reaching out a hand to wrap around the other's neck with little warning but the thought may have been there to alert the other as he had crossed the room. There was no pressure to the touch, he just wanted to see how easy it would've been. To feel the the other's pulse under his fingertips.

He believes Abel's words that he wouldn't stop him but he did make a deal in playing the game and the other was right about him not outright killing him at the easiest opportunity. Jonathan tilts his head, giving a rather muddled expression, "You are a strange one."

He couldn't wrap his head around Abel being so nonchalant about his eventual death by his hand.

"Rich people have a rather odd view of things, I've found. Alarmingly so," Abel says with a laugh. He didn't know much about average people, but he wasn't ignorant. He knew people lived completely different worlds.

And he's so calm when the other wraps his hand around his throat. A pleasant smile even. He tilts his head slightly. "Strange? I'm just bored," he replies. Maybe that sounds weird, but Abel had already resigned to his life. It wasn't great, but it wasn't completely terrible either. He found his fun here and there.

As far as fulfilling though, it was completely lacking. He found nothing meaningful and so death was merely an ending.

Jonathan huffs a half laugh, "Clearly." With such an abundance of time and resources, he could only image how that might alter their view on things.

He frowns and his brows furrow for a moment before he gives his grip a slight squeeze. How easy it would be. The thought flashes in his mind; a quick snap of the neck, claws slashing quickly over flesh or the slow bone crushing under his hands before he pulls his hand away and rubs at the side of his face. A pause before he takes a seat on the floor near Abel's legs with his back pressed up against the edge of the bed.

"So what happens now? I figure you'd want to start this game tomorrow, considering the time?" Jonathan asks as he looks over in the other's direction.

How cute, he thinks. The other, he thinks, doesn't actually have the heart to kill him. He idly wonders why they had decided to hire a man who probably was actually ill fit to be an assassin. No matter, it just means it'll be a long game and that means he'll be amused at least for a little while. He would also be lying that the other hasn't piqued his interest. They make him curious. He'd like to know more about the other if even as a passing fancy to quench his boredom.

"I suppose so. I am tired and I got out of a rather dull party earlier than usual," he says with a chuckle.

Killing wasn't so much a big deal for him. Most on a hit list were there for a reason, they had skeletons in their closet that were easy to find before the assignment and it was easy to justify the need to kill them. In Abel's case, it just wasn't there. There were skeletons in his father's closet and those around him but not the other. Then there was the matter of the unforeseen ability that changed the course of this assignment.

He didn't mind it, really. He just knows there's bound to be a client complaint about time and one about possible attachment.

"It did seem rather boring." He smiles, fancy parties like this one weren't really his thing. The smells of too much perfume and cologne mixing made his head hurt after awhile and all the conversations sounded the same. "You certainly gave the room something to speculate for the rest of the evening though."

"I dreadddd it," Abel says rather dramatically. He hated socializing with others. It was all just a front for everyone to try and strengthen their social standings or make allies in a cutthroat environment. No one actually cared about each other and the conversations were dull.

He hated them even if he knew how to play the game.

"It's not like assassinations aren't common. I already know your employer," Abel replies dismissively. He had no idea if Jonathan had been directly employed or if a middle man was used, but he could read everyone that came, so he knew.

It didn't matter to him who it was though, so he had no interest in exposing them either.

When love became an act of defiance

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Idk why i have this one lol

we made the new thread so we can suffer sooner.

ah

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