When love became an act of defiance

[prohibitions]

I hear your heart beating in your chest
The world slows 'till there's nothing left
Skyscrapers look on like great, unblinking giants

Comments

[prohibitions]

[Traveling is a strange affair. Despite being surrounded by so many people, it was completely quiet. No chatter around him as people went about their days. No sound of traffic. Just a complete dead silence that made one almost feel like that they were completely alone despite countless people around him. He follows his dog, Olivia, as she maneuvers through the crowd.

Cain was a well known photographer. He had photographed models to food to animals to environments. It's somewhat of a relief to end up in an industry so prolific given that he really was limited in what he could do.

Today it was food. A shop, despite it's size and location, was reputable for it's gorgeous confections that were equally delicious. Or so it has been said. He was supposed to photograph them for an article about them along with supposedly an interview of the owners and some of the workers.

He didn't really pay attention to the particulars. His job was to take pictures. Not chat.

Cain gets there before anyone else does. It gives him time to pull his camera out and to put one of the lenses on to take pictures of the outside of the shop. It also meant that there were probably less people still.

As he focuses on the window, he can't help but pause as he looks at Jonathan through his lens before gently lowering his camera as he watches the other. He can't quite place the feeling he was experiencing. Just that something about the other felt so familiar. Odd. He knows he never spoken to the other nor does he recognize them.

He lets his camera sit against his chest before crossing over from where he had been taking pictures to approach the large window.]

[corcotta]

[ Jonathan was heavily concentrating on detail piping a floral design on a set of chocolates that the owner's requested be made as part of the spread for article.

At the moment, he was the only one in the shop with the owners still in their upstairs apartment getting ready from what the note at his station had said. His coworker that was supposed to be accompanying him for the day was out on a quick last minute ingredient run, leaving him to hold down the fort with last minute finalizing.

He can tell when someone gets closer to the glass by seeing them in his near-peripheral vision, though he doesn't immediately look up until he was done, just so he didn't mess up. He spots the service dog first before he notices Cain, offering him a soft smile as a bit of a greeting.

He doesn't piece together that Cain might be today's photographer but there is a long pause from him under slightly furrowed brows in confusion because he feels as though he's seen him before.

Seeing as one of his mothers was a reputable photographer, it was possible he might've seen Cain's work by proxy but he knows he's never seen the other before now. A voice calls out to him from the back of house, which snaps him out of his thoughts and his attention is pulled away.

He does glance back at the other before he's setting down the piping bag and running deeper inside the shop.

Hoping that Cain would still be there when he gets back or perhaps come inside when they open. Maybe he's a little too hopeful for something that was just a unexplained hunch. ]

[prohibitions]

[Cain is still there when Jonathan returns. The man is sitting on the ground looking through the photos on his camera. Olivia, his saluki, next to him as she laps up water from a bowl that Cain transports with him.

He doesn't pay attention to anything around him, but Olivia seems to be his senses for him. The motion of her finishing her water and looking up at Jonathan from where they're seated seems to catch Cain's attention as he turns his head to look up at the other.

Up close, Jonathan can see the countless freckles on Cain's face to a soft, pale green of eyes. There was something about his eyes. Something sad and old about them like they witnessed more than just one lifetime. Cain offers up and upturn of his lips.]

[corcotta]

[ Ah. He didn't mean to grab Olivia's attention when he came back to his station, knowing just how important a service dog's duty was when they were working, he guesses it couldn't be helped though. She was a really pretty dog and not a breed he's seen be used for a service dog before.

Jonathan's attention is quickly turned to Cain once the other looks up at him, perhaps he stares a little too long but there was something oddly familiar about those green eyes the more he looks into them, almost tempted to count the countless freckles. He was working and he couldn't allow himself to be too distracted besides... that would be a tad strange.

He smiles in return and gives Cain a little wave, returning to the chocolates he was decorating.

It wasn't long after that the owners finally came downstairs, going about some last minute plating and checking to make sure everything was ready. Having famous parents and majority of his family in some sort of limelight, he knows what to say and what not to if he's asked anything or simply blend in with the scenery.

Which is where he stands after he's pried away from his station again, only to be told what to do. Be introduced then stand at the display table until addressed otherwise. Boring work but necessary. So when the owners open the door for the staff working on the article when they arrive, they introduce themselves then Jonathan and his coworker.

He shakes hands with everyone until he reaches Cain's and that hesitation returns. Unable to place the intense familiarity as his hand touches the other's. Like he's held his hand before, noticing how it fit so perfectly in his own. How cold his hand was. Jonathan has to pry away his attention when his name is called and he gives the other an apologetic smile before he's standing next to the table, out of the way. ]

[prohibitions]

[There's a few others that join. The interviewers and some other staff. A translator who interacts with Cain immediately.

After the initial handshakes, mostly everyone seems to congregate and talk, except for Cain. The translator and him interact for a moment; hands moving in patterns and quickly before Cain walks away from the group to look at the displays and taking photos.

The interview goes without a hitch and morning quickly turns into afternoon before they decide to take a break for lunch.

While mostly everyone stays inside as they chat, Cain could be found back outside with his dog as he goes through photos on his camera. There's a few whispers among the staff about how odd Cain was. Some snide jokes about not needing to whisper because he can't hear them anyways. A frown from the translator, but not saying anything about it. Cain, left alone to his own devices as he absentmindedly pet Olivia; the dog resting her head on his leg as she stared at anyone who passed by.]

[corcotta]

[ Jonathan picks out a set of desserts and a dog treat from their respective cases, ones that he'll pay for later, before he walks over to the translator to ask if they could help him talk to Cain. The comment that the other members of staff make doesn't go unnoticed by him and he simply smiles and makes a politely hostile comment in return about how they shouldn't speak about the other in such a way.

Ill-mannered comments on someone else's behalf was something he wouldn't stand for. He passes one of the desserts in his hands over to the translator to have as a thank you for their hard work once they get closer to the door before heading outside.

He tried not to startle Cain or his dog with their sudden appearance but he stands in front of the other before kneeling down. ]

I wasn't sure what you'd like but I brought these for you and your dog for all your hard work.

[ He says with a smile as he holds out the remaining dessert and the dog treat out towards the other. ]

[prohibitions]

[There's a quiet thank you from the translator as they walk out to where Cain was keeping himself thoroughly occupied with Olivia. Olivia immediately is alerted and turns her attention to the pair that leave the building. Cain picks up her change in demeanor and turns his head to look up at them. He looks at Jonathan before glancing at the translator for a moment.

He reaches out to take the dessert and treat with a quiet thank you.

Cain turns his attention back to Olivia who suddenly sits upright and completely still. Very carefully, Cain places the treat on her snout. Olivia stares at it intently but doesn't move an inch. Cain even makes her shake his hand before he lets her eat it.

He finally turns back to the two. The translator signs a few things before she heads back inside. He finally looks at the other.] I can read lips. [Cain's voice comes out surprisingly even for someone who can't hear himself. It's even, but very soft.] I'm fond of any sweets, so there isn't many things I don't like to eat.