#˗ˏˋ ʰᵃⁿᵈᵇᵒᵒᵏ· one day i'll fly away ﹕ the lost prince.

[wovetales]

there   is   an   awkward   air   hovering   between   them   as   theo   slowly   begins   to   walk   out   of   the   apartment   ,   his   usually   well   kept   attire   messy   &   wrinkled   as   he   takes   his   leave   ,   steps   growing   heavier   as   gets   closer   to   the   exit.   never   has   the   former   prince   ever   been   this   daring   on   a   night   out   before   ,   but   victor   is   unlike   anyone   he's   ever   met   ,   bringing   out   a   part   of   him   he   didn't   realize   he   ever   had.   now   he   is   completely   intrigued   to   spend   more   time   with   this   man   &   perhaps   learn   more   of   the   world   he   is   clearly   still   new   to   ,   but   how   does   he   make   that   known   ?   does   he   just   ask   ?   he   won’t   know   unless   he   tries.   with   his   coat   in   his   arms   ,   folded   as   well   as   he   could   with   his   currently   boggled mind   ,   theo   clears   his   throat   a   bit   as   he   turns   to   face   victor   ,   cheeks   a   light   shade   of   pink   as   he   begins   to   speak.

❝   thank   you   for   the   .   .   .   well   .   .   .   ❞   he's   not   sure   how   to   put   it   ,   stumbling   over   his   words.   ❝   &   thank   you   for   letting   me   stay   over   to   recover.   um   .   .   .      perhaps   we   could   do   it   again   sometime   ?   ❞   he   grimaces.   oh   god   ,   he   hopes   he   isn't   coming   across   pathetic   in   any   way.   too   late   to   go   back   now.   ❝   that   is   ,   only   if   you'd   like   to.   i   wouldn't   want   to   impose   if   this   was   meant   to   be   a   one   time   occasion.   ❞

˗ˏˋ     ᶜʰᵃᵖᵗᵉʳˢ·      it’s   showtime   ﹕   theo bennet   &   featuring  @erebius   as   victor   conley.

[wovetales]

victor   is   quite   literally   everything   he   was   taught   not   to   be like   ,   a   bit   of   a   charming   troublemaker   with   a   perchance   for   breaking   the   rules.   he   follows   the   beat   of   his   own   drum   &   does   what   he   needs   to   do   in   order   to   survive   ,   wearing   a   perfectly   crafted   mask   that   seems   to   be   uncaring   of   what   others   think   ,   but   deep   down   ,   theo   is   sure   he   does.   it's   been   truly   enjoyable   spending   one   on   one   time   with   him   as   of   late   ,   thankful   that   his   friend   had   introduced   them   at   that   party   ages   ago.   what   started   out   as   an   awkward   introduction   has   turned   into   .   .   .      something   that   keeps   bringing   him   back   ,   unable   to   resist   that   tug   he   feels   whenever   he's   near   the   taller   man   ,   despite   everything   in   his   heart   &   mind   telling   him   he   should   be   wary.   his   upbringing   ,   specifically   his   aunt   &   uncle's   words   ,   have   been   so   embedded   into   his   head   that   he   can   still   hear   their   voices   whispering   in   his   ear to cease this infatuation.   he   won't   let   their   old   fashioned   ways   ruin   the   happiness   he's   managed   to   find   away   from   ardenia   ,   especially   when   he's   finding   himself   teetering   beyond   the   realm   of   ❛   like   ❜   when   it   comes   to   victor   conley.   the   former   prince   has   never   been   in   love   ,   but   maybe   .   .   . he   could   fall   for   a   man   like   him.

victor   drags   himself   into   the   kitchen   in   search   of   something   to   drink   in   his   usually   empty   fridge   , & the sight alone has   theo   smiling   from   ear   to   ear.   he   watches   onward   as   victor   eventually finds   a   milk   carton   to   drink   from   ,   only   deciding   to   check   the   date   of   said   drink   after   already   taking   a   swig.   ❝   expiration   dates   are   for   the   weak.   ❞   he   says   confidently to the former prince   ,   &   all   theo   can   do   is   laugh in pure delight.   still   in   his   underwear   ,   hair   messy   from   the   night   before   ,   he   makes   his   way   into   the   kitchen   in   order   to   investigate   the   milk   himself.   the   expiration   date   is   scratched   off   the   carton   ﹙   how   convenient   ﹚   ,   but   the   milk   itself   seemed   to   smell   fine   ━━   a   risky   choice   drinking   it   without   certainty   ,   but   that   was   just   victor.   he   lived   life   on   the   edge.   ❝   perhaps   i   should   do   a   taste   test   just   to   make   sure   you   won't   be   sick   later.   ❞   before   allowing   the   taller   man   to   say   anything   in   protest   ,   theo   then   reaches   over   to   cup   victor's   cheek   &   caress   the   soft   skin   he   finds   with   loving   intention   ,   taking   the   moment   to   gaze   at   him   fondly   before   his   thumb   swipes   along   his   bottom   lip   ,   cleaning   the   remnants   of   the   milk   with   graceful   ease.   he   then   takes   a   moment   to   lick   off   the   contents   off   his   thumb   in   full   view   for   his   friend's   ﹙   ?   ﹚   delight   ,   thoughtfully   considering   the   taste   before   finally   smiling   & nodding in approval.   ❝   seems   alright   with   me.   i   think   you'll   live   to   tell   the   tale   later.   ❞   he   winks   ,   his   hand   moving   back   to   gently   pat   his   cheek.   ❝   i   don't   think   there's   enough   to   make   pancakes   from   it   ,   so   i   suppose   some   eggs   &   bacon   will   have   to   do.   how   do   you   want   your   eggs   done   ,   darling   ?   ❞ he's already moved into the kitchen , curious how his earlier actions are affecting him. what can he say ? he learned from the best. ❝ do   let   me   know   when   you're   done   staring   at   me   ━━   i'm   not   due   to   rehearsal   until   later   tonight   ,   so   i   have   all   the   time   in   the   world   for   you.   ❞

˗ˏˋ     ᵖʳᵒˡᵒᵍᵘᵉ     theo   bennet   ﹕   the   love   hypothesis.   featuring   @erebius  as   victor   conley.

[wovetales]

˗ˏˋ      ᵖʳᵒˡᵒᵍᵘᵉ·      tags      ﹕      part   seven.

[wovetales]

too   fucked   up   .   .   .   three   words   that   seem   to   define   victor   conley's   constant   state   &   yet   despite   knowing   that   ,   theo   cannot   seem   stay   away.   no   ,   he   doesn't   want   to   stay   away ━━ drawn   to   him   like   a   moth   mesmerized   by   a   tantalizing   , yet   harmful   flame.   the burn is inevitable & he knows he should expect it , but he's too foolish to look the other way ━━ the burn might be worth it in the end. it's   embarrassing   how   his   eyes   light   up   when   victor   asks   to   stay   the   night   ,   a   slight   selfishness   in   his   heart   excited   at   the   prospect   of   not   being   alone.   but   even   despite   all   that   ,   he   knows   why   he's   truly   staying over   &   theo   is   more   than   happy   to   have   him   here   if   it   means   he   won't   get   into   anymore   trouble   anywhere   else & will remain safe with him.

❝   of   course   you   can   ,   ❞   the   former   prince   replies   with   a   soft   smile   ,   hands   tempted   to   reach   for   victor's   ,   but   they   remain   planted   on   his   lap.   don't   be   too   desperate.   ❝   with   how   often   we   spend   time   together   ,   i   should   honestly   just   get   you   your   own   key.   ❞   a   nervous   laugh   bubbles   up   in   his   throat.   perhaps   that   was   an   odd   statement   to   make.   after   all   ,   they   aren't   even   together   .   .   .   but   they   are   more   than   friends   ,   it   seems.   ❝   can   i   get   you   anything   ?   ❞

❛❛ d'you mind if i sleep here tonight ? too fucked up to make it home , i think. ❜❜

@wovetales . . . theo !

[wovetales]

when   people   meet   the   former   prince & for the first time   ,   their   reactions   are   usually   always   the   same.   he's   been   taught   to   stand   tall   ,   to   present   himself   as   unfeeling   &   cold   &   it's   been   difficult   to   shed   that   part   of   himself   as   he   tries   to   adjust   to   a   more   humble   living   in   the   city.   often   when   friends   introduce   him   to   others   ,   he   isn't   seen   as very   approachable   ,   so   he   knows   it's   his   own doing   when   he   isn't   receiving   many   invitations   to   other   events   &   parties.   for   some   reason   ,   when   his   fellow   co   -   star   introduced   him   to   victor   conley   ,   something   in   him   just   snapped   &   the   once   icy   seeming   prince   is   now   suddenly   at   a   loss   of   words , unsure   how   to   carry   on   a   normal   conversation.   in   the   end   ,   the   party   was   fun   despite   having   too   many   memory   lapses   to   really   recall   most   of   it   ,   but   he   does   remember   victor   leading   him   back   to   his   place   ,   ensuring   that he   was   well   hydrated   &   cared   for   ,   &   then   a   kiss   .   .   .      maybe   more   than   one   kiss   , was   shared   &   suddenly   his   cheeks   are   red   just   thinking   about   it   all   over   again.   they   only   just   met   &   he's   thrown   himself   over   this   man   who's   still   just   a   stranger.   this   is   so   not   becoming   of   him   &   yet   somehow   ,   victor   seems   kind   about   it   ━━   even   going   as   far   as   encouraging   him   to   stay.   this   is   .   .   .   most   definitely   a   first   for   him.   should   he   stay   ?   he   clings   to   his   coat   a   little   more   ,   using   it   to   ground   him   as   he   tries   to   navigate   his   way   through   this   uncharted   territory.

❝   i'm   rather   thankful   you're   not   chasing   me   out   ,   especially   with   how   i   acted   last   night.   ❞   he's   still   a   little   remorseful   over   kissing   him   ,   not   because   he   didn't   like   it   ,   he   liked   it   a   lot   more   than   he'd   care   to   admit   ,   but   moreso   because   it   was   done   so   hastily.   if   given   the   chance   ,   he'd   take   his   time   ━━   make   it   more   romantic   ,   more   meaningful   &   after   a   long   period   of   getting   to   know   victor   better.   too   late   to   change   the   past   now.   ❝   i'm   sorry   for   springing   that   on   you   ,   by   the   way.   i'm   normally   not   like   that   &   i   don't   know   what   came   over   me.   ❞   well   ,   he   does   know   ,   but   no   need   to   bring   up   all   that.   best   to   focus   on   that   invitation   victor   just   posed   .   .   .   should   he   stay   ?   ❝   you   know   ,   i   could   do   with   some pain   killers.   my   head   does   feel   a   bit   painful & oddly foggy   at   the   moment.   ❞   but   was   it because   of   what   they   took   or   because   of   how   this   man   is   making   him   feel   ?   he   couldn't   say for sure.   ❝   do   you   have   ingredients   to   make   an   omelet   ?   i'm   rather decent   when   it   comes   to   cooking   breakfast.   breakfast   &   pizza   are   my   specialties   ,   actually.   ❞

theo  is  cute  ,     victor  thinks  ,     while  trailing  into  his  kitchen  with  a  blanket  pulled  around  his  shoulders.     more  than  cute  ,     even———handsome  ,     all  ruffled  and  a-fluster  ,     coat  in  arms  ,     trying  to  seem  put  together.     stepping  through  the  archway  into  the  living  room  ,     victor  leans  against  the  couch  with  his  blanket  still  gripped  tight  ,     cheeks  heating  as  he  watches  the  other.           ❛❛  you're  welcome  whenever  you'd  like  ,     theo.     especially  if  you've  got  drink  with  you.  ❜❜           a  wicked  smirk  takes  his  face  ,      but  all  that  facial  movement  makes  his  poor  hungover  head  hurt  ,     so  it  falters  not  long  after  with  a  grimace.

eyes  flicker  then  to  his  coffee  table  ,     all  the  pill  bottles  strewn  about  it  ,     and  he  grimaces  again———shifts  and  moves  closer  in  hopes  of  pulling  theo's  attention.           ❛❛  you  don't  have  to  run  out  so  fast  ,     y'know.     i'm  not  chasin'  you  with  a  broom.     you'd  probably  do  well  with  some  water  and  an  advil———any  good  at  cookin'  ?  ❜❜