Completed Poison me, poison you. Aha~~ {Ninus}

[Ronan Dugal]

Ronan listened eagerly to the man as he learned a little more about him. Although he couldn't really understand why the man spent his time with rats, he was glad to hear he had at least a hobby of procuring and breeding molds or spores. He hadn't really expected the man to be collecting shiny stones or to sew in his spare time. Considering Ninus' profession, Ronan wasn't surprised in the slightest by the man's feelings for the Syliran knights. He even agreed with him on the entire thing, although Ronan didn't feel this fear for them. He just disliked them quite a bit. And any businessman would. Ronan could sense and see Ninus' desire to get out of the bath tub so Ronan removed himself first as the man was scrubbing down the rest of the dirt off of him. It was true that by being near the man, in their naked state, Ronan had become curious why the man felt like he felt. Why would a man desire a man? As one bath companion desired touch, the other wanted to satisfy a curiosity. Ronan pushed himself up out of the water, one hand held to his side, where the blue and black showed up from under his hand. "You enjoy your bath a little longer, friend. I'll get out first." He winced at the pain from standing up but managed to, while dripping water all over the floor, get out of the bathtub. Ronan walked over to the two sets of towels hanging from the wall and he picked one off, using it to dry himself quickly. With the towel wrapped around his waist, covering the most important part of his nakedness, Ronan sat himself on the far end of the bath tub and looked at Ninus as the man was bathing himself. Maybe if he tried it out he would understand it... He found his hand trailing over the side of the tub towards Ninus, his eyes fixed on the man's face. And then he suddenly stood up and walked away to where his clothes were put down. He quickly took off the towel and slipped into his still sweaty clothes. He left the towel lying on the ground.

[Ninus Aurellius]

The Prince of Rats Ninus watched Ronan get out of the bath, slowly relaxing himself. He found himself staring at the hand slowly sliding toward him, his brain silently screaming at Ronan to touch him. It was too much to bear. Ronan had stoked a fire Ninus had thought lost, and it was making the water feel like it was boiling him. He washed himself quietly, making sure he got every inch clean. Who knew when he would get a bath again? Though he desperately wanted to get out, the practical part of him reminded him of where and how he lived. Most of the water allotted to him went to the plants, his livelihood, or drinking. He got up and out of the bath and wrapped a towel around his waist. He saw Ronan moving to dress, and his chance slipping away. His brain felt fevered on top of the waning dizziness he still felt. "Ser." he began, drawing in a deep breath. "Stay thine hand a moment." His entire body was in fight or flight, prepared to run. He approached Ronan, swallowing thickly, and lifted his hands. He rested them on either side of Ronan's jaw and pressed his lips to the other man's. He exhaled gently through his romanesque nose, his eyes slowly closing. It had indeed been far too long. His kiss was cautious yet passionate, though his feet were firmly planted and ready to flee. After all, the patient had been taken care of. His job was technically done...and he would forgo payment if it meant saving his skin after such a stupid mistake. He knew Cricet would disapprove; she had taken it upon herself to keep him on the straight and narrow, and kissing his employers was not a wise move to make. Ninus drew back slightly, searching Ronan's face. His entire body burned, his hands shook, the dizziness was returning with a vengeance. He wanted to scream at Ronan to touch him, but he stood stock still with his quavering hands on Ronan's cheeks, lips slightly apart, breathing picking up. "Leave me not here, ser, do not flee." he was surprised at how much of a pleading tone had crept into his voice. "As you wonder so I can provide, my bed has been cold but for the bodies of rats, and my heart alongside it. I would have you take me, ser, entwined in red passion as written by the poets. I would have you command me, for my body already aches to obey." He fell silent, terrified of Ronan's next words.

[Ronan Dugal]

Ronan stood with his back to Ninus, one hand on the handle of the door, just about ready to leave. When he was asked to stay his hand, Ronan let go of it and turned around to look at Ninus, who was standing quite close to him, almost against him. His breathing stopped as he held it, feeling Ninus' hands on his face and Ninus' lips on his. Ronan's eyes were wide open in shock as he felt the other man's lips touch his, his arms were limp at his sides, not agreeing nor disagreeing with what was happening. Part of him wanted to know what he was doing while the other part didn't mind what was happening. Neither part took control as Ronan just stood there, like an inexperienced teenager being kissed for the first time by someone he had never expected to be kissed by. His entire body was tensed up ready to... what? Flee? Lean in and kiss Ninus back? Fight? Respond? Ronan wasn't sure what he wanted to do or was supposed to do. Ronan resumed breathing as Ninus drew back from the kiss. The entire process had been alien to Ronan and he was still unsure of he felt about it all. He just stared in front of him, to the man who had just kissed him. He tried to find a way to express what he was feeling, all the confusion and all the doubt, but nothing came to him. A talker like Ronan was at a loss for words. "I'm not..." Not what? Not like Ninus? Or not interested in Ninus? Or not sure? Ronan reached up to the hands touching his face and grasped them lightly, pulling them away. Like the knight Ninus claimed him to be, Ronan held onto the other man's hands, his fingers wrapped around Ninus'. Ever so gently, Ronan lifted Ninus' hands to his lips and pressed a single kiss to the back of his right hand as he made a decision for himself. With sadness in his eyes, Ronan let go of Ninus' hands. "I will wonder some more then." Although he smiled, it never reached his eyes. Turning around on the balls of his feet, Ronan opened the door and stepped out of the room, leaving Ninus to himself as he closed the door behind him. By the time his feet touched the tiles at the bottom of the stairs, all sadness was gone from his eyes and the usual pleasant smile hid whatever he was truly feeling.

[Ninus Aurellius]

The Prince of Rats Ninus stayed still and quiet until well after Ronan had left, feeling cold quietly replace desire. He sat down on the floor, looking at the boards. His ribs hitched at the change in position and he touched the bruises gently. He rested his clean forehead against the floor and closed his eyes in misery. He had taken a chance, and it had failed. He wound his stained fingers up into his scalp, his eyes burning. "Oh cruel knight, thy lance has slipped and gone through my chest." he whispered to the floor. "I who have killed a friendship with the sweetest of gestures, with mine own foolishness wrapped about myself. I loosed the leash held so tightly, and found myself unable to grasp it again." His fingers gripped his scalp tighter, causing pain to shoot along the bruise and cut he had received from the thug. "How I would have preferred to leave thee after a night of passion with a friendship resolved in the tenderest of ways. What cruel hand taunts me so then twists its claws in me? Hath the gods not gotten tired of their ill-gotten entertainment? Are they not sickened by misery, but delight in tormenting me so?" he wept against the floor, unable to move, shivering with the cold air his wet body beckoned to him. Cricet limped toward him and settled down next to him with a sigh, looking at the door Ronan had vacated. What now? She licked Ninus' cheek, but knew he would probably rather be left alone. She hobbled out of the room and followed Ronan downstairs, curiously padding along behind him.

[Ronan Dugal]

Ronan did his best to ignore the rat on the way down but the hobbling and the creatures little feet made it almost impossible to ignore. As he took the last step off the stairs he turned around to face the rat and leaned down, offering his hand for the rat. Sure, maybe she was there to bite him because of what he had done to the man upstairs. If that was the way she thought then that was what he would get. Whatever Cricet's reaction to Ronan's gesture, he would walk into the lobby room to sit with the lady of the house. The servant was nowhere to be seen but grunting could be heard from the kitchen. The man was probably cleaning up after them. "Milady. I feel like things have gotten a little out of hand with this particular request. As far as I understand it. Dr. Aurellius will have to remain here for just a few days, to make sure everything is perfectly fine with Turan." Ronan did not touch on the subject of Ninus having sold the poison to whoever had administered it. "I hope this will be possible, dear lady?" Ronan made a slight bow with his head towards her. As Ronan took a seat in one of the unoccupied chairs, she spoke. "Why is it, dear Ronan, that you never use my name? Have I not asked you to do so often times?" Ronan grinned at her as he shrugged and spread his hands. "Dear lady, I am who I am. This will never change." As Ronan waited for Ninus to finish his bath he spoke with the lady at length, remembering childhood adventures between the three of them. The stupid things they had done, the mistakes they had made. But here they were, all three of them, still alive. Some more so than others. The air in the room had changed and the occasional laugh came from the lady of the house as Ronan remembered with her how they grew up to become this. Rich people in their big Syliran suite with a merchant friend who traveled the world. Or at least a decent part of it. When the servant was finished with the bodies, he had enlisted help from some of the children ever present outside, he brought in three cups and tea and some minor nibbles, in case anyone felt like them.

[Ninus Aurellius]

The Prince of Rats Cricet settled on Ronan's shoulder and nibbled at his ear affectionately. She groomed herself as Ronan settled down to talk to the lady of the house, wiggling her whiskers. She reached out and took a tea cake from the tray when it was brought in, chewing it thoughtfully as she thought over her master. Ninus, she hoped, would be alright. He had accrued no end of misery with situations like this, and she felt pity for him. As much as a rat could feel pity. She enjoyed the laughter and easy talk of Ronan and the lady of the house, and began grooming through his hair when she was done with the tea cake. Her astute ears caught a small noise and she looked up. Ninus was dressed, and haggard looking. She tilted her head at him, but he went into Turan's room and shut the door quietly. Ninus sat down next to Turan's bed, grasping his wrist and feeling for a pulse. He settled on the floor, releasing the man's hand and gently placing it back upon his chest. He gingerly took one of the cleaner blankets from sweating out Turan and pulled it over his shoulder. But, it was still far too exposed for a man used to sleeping with hundreds of tiny bodies next to him. The day was late, and getting later. He crawled under the bed and gingerly packed some of the blanket in next to his injured ribs. "What a fool I am." he mumbled quietly. The pain was wearing off, and hideous embarrassment taking its place.

[Ronan Dugal]

When Cricet left him, Ronan knew Ninus had moved or had even left the suite entirely. But he remained in his seat, talking with the lady of the house. As the sun lowered and the light became darker everywhere in the room, the servant started lighting candles so that people could see. While Ninus could walk freely upstairs, Ronan and the lady slowly retreated to the dining room, where a simple meal was prepared for three. But just like with the tea, only two people were present. The servant, considering all that had happened to him today, was remarkably at ease placing the food on the table for the lady and her guest. When Ninus didn't join them for dinner, Ronan asked the servant to prepare a tray of food for him, which he took up himself. He looked in the guest bedroom first, where he couldn't find Ninus. He wasn't in the bathroom either. Finally Ronan looked in Turan's room, where he couldn't spot Ninus either. Just as he turned however, Cricet started to climb down from his shoulder and Ronan knelt down to give her easier access to the floor. She disappeared under the bed as quick as she could. Kneeling down at the entrance to the room, Ronan spotted a pile of... something under the bed and, upon closer inspection realized it was Ninus' sleeping form. Why did the man sleep under the patient's bed? Ronan left the tray of food on the floor next to the bed and silently left the room, not wanting to disturb Ninus. Ronan spend the last hours of the day in the study upstairs, browsing through the books there and simply sitting and thinking. It had been an eventful day for everyone and Ronan wasn't sure if it was the end of it. He sighed to himself as he pushed himself up out of his chair. He blew out the single candle and closed the door behind him, trying to avoid the creaking of the wood. The entire suite was asleep, except for the servant in the kitchen, cleaning the dishes. Ronan stretched one arm, the other on hurting too much to move, and snuck into the guest bedroom, where he undressed and went to sleep as well. Sleep quickly overtook his weary body.

[Ninus Aurellius]

The Prince of Rats Ninus awoke when morning had come. He cracked open an eye, glad to find himself bereft of any dizziness, and edged out from under the bed. He saw a cold tray of food for him, which Cricet was up and nibbling on. He sat down next to it and finished it off, not at all minding that it was stone cold from being out in open air all night. There was still the matter of whom had poisoned Turan to deal with, and the thugs had been an odd occurance. He regretted not leaving one alive, but perhaps there were clues on their person. He hoped the servants hadn't disposed of the bodies. He kissed Cricet's forehead and went downstairs, entering the kitchen to find it clean. He pursed his lips. Cricet, meanwhile, pawed at the door of the guest bedroom. She scratched at the wood, rubbing up against it like a cat. Ninus was a good master, but Ronan had been very comfortable...and she didn't like sleeping on the floor. She'd gorged herself, and now wanted to lay on warm sheets while her master figured out the next move. Ninus rooted around the kitchen, hoping something would have been left behind. All evidence pointed to someone in the residence...unlimited access to Turan three times a day for meals, someone no one would suspect...the wife was out. The servant..? He would have to dig deeper. He had sold the poison, or at least knowledge of where to find it...but to whom? So many came to him over the years. Who, recently, had plied his trade? Then there was the kiss...he was regretting it, but wondering whether to speak with Ronan about it. He wanted to keep the man's friendship, after all.

[Ronan Dugal]

People always mention that sleep makes you better, nothing is better for healing then sleeping. People are always wrong. Ronan groaned and grumbled as he woke up from a noise near the door, like someone was scratching the wood. And as he woke up, his entire body decided to start hurting. His shoulder and side felt like the skin was too small for his body. His chin constantly hurt whenever he moved his lips. At least the headache had died down to an annoying light drumming, instead of the intense banging from yesterday. Rolling out of the bed, Ronan landed on his feet and walked towards the door, his entire body demanding more sleep. As he opened the door, Cricet decided to run over his feet into the room, startling Ronan. "You can have it." Ronan said a few moments later to the creature lying on his pillow. He bit his lips as he lifted a clean shirt over his head and pulled it down. And he bit his lip once more as he lifted a new pair of trousers up to his waist. Everything hurt no matter where he turned or how he moved. Dressed in his shirt and trousers, Ronan made his way downstairs and into the kitchen, where he found Ninus looking around for something. "If you want breakfast, you can just ask Terrence. He knows where everything is." Ronan said as he poured himself a mug of water from a glass pitcher. Ronan wasn't sure what Ninus thought about the subject, but he had decided not to bring the kiss up anymore. Just leave it where it was, in the past, and forget about it. They could get on with their job and Ninus could remain just a friend. And possibly, hopefully, Ronan's expert on poisons and antidotes whenever he had a client who needed one. It wasn't that he expected endless streams of people coming to his doorstep looking for an antidoter but since he had learned off Ninus through this particular job, there would be no harm in keeping tabs on the man's whereabouts in case Ronan would require his aid in the future.

[Ninus Aurellius]

The Prince of Rats Ninus shook his head, and immediately regretted it. He groaned and winced, running his fingers over his face. "I require not food, ser." he said. "It is some sign of the poisoner that I seek. Something to help my memory, something. He could not have waited to plant the seed inside of Turan. He would have asked for knowledge, not for some dose of poison." He could barely look Ronan in the eyes as he pulled up a chair and sat down, stroking his fingers over his temples. His hair hung down over his eyes, black and stringy from stress. "About what transpired before the night passed..." Ninus began quietly. "I beg your forgiveness." He was tight lipped, partially from the agony it had caused him to bend over to look for clues, and from the dizziness. He had laid awake last night, thinking of the bath. Ronan had taunted him, and he had been so foolish as to act upon it. He took a deep breath and lifted his head from his hands. "I wish for your hand in friendship, ser, and in finding this poisoner. Turan will not rest easily until we do."